Get Personal with YALS Rachel Patterson
If you’re a young adult, or have a young adult who’s had or is still living with Lyme disease, you have to meet Rachel! This dynamic young lady is the co-leader for YALS, an online social group for young adults age 18-30 to hangout and have the space to connect with others who “get it” … from daily challenges, transitioning from high school to college, a delay in starting college, to entering the workforce and navigating it all through different stages of illness and treatment.
The Formation of YALS
The idea behind the new group is the brainchild of Amy Tiehel, PA Lyme’s Dare Program Manager, and Rachel. The two met originally at PA Lyme’s Lily Bennet Mini-Golf fundraiser in 2023, and began talking about something to support young adults. “Rachel has been an integral part in forming the group, naming it and the communications,” Amy detailed, “and it was vital to have a likeminded young adult at the helm.”
The first meeting was held in February 2004, and continues to be held online monthly. The format is casual with open discussion, with no obligation to share. “It’s really a place to meet people your age and share stories,” Rachel explained. “We listen to each other and give them those moments to feel validation and friendship that ‘yes, we’re going through this and it’s not fun, but we’re in it together.’ That way we feel a little less lonely in our own Lyme journey.”
The group already has a couple of regulars with attendees from throughout the state, including Pittsburgh, Montgomery County, and northern PA. Young adults from out of state are also welcome to join, and we hope other young adults are encouraged to join in as they are able. The online format allows PA Lyme to connect a wider range of people.
Online Meetings – Link via Facebook
Every 4th Thursday of the Month, 7-9 pm
Using ‘Magic Tricks’ to Help with Social Situations
Rachel gets what it was like having Lyme as a teenager. “It was lonely,” she honestly admitted. “And you’re missing out on specific life events. It’s frustrating because as you grow up, you’re told how amazing it’s going to be, and you’re sick. It totally changes what it is for you. With YALS, we’ve talked about how we’ve personally dealt with this. We also have found that we tend to have really funny stories of interactions with people …because illness gets in the way.”
If you’re in the group, you’re already in the know about Rachel’s “magic trick!” It’s just one example of the inside jokes forming as a result of the YALS budding friendships. Rachel explained, “When I was at college, I would have would have to take a lot of pills, GIANT pills. At lunch in the cafeteria, I would try to hide them. One day, my roommate asked what I was doing. My quick reply was, ‘I’m practicing my magic trick.’ I took my handful of pills, put them in mouth, and with one sip they were gone. It then became a thing that friends told others about my cool trick. That really helped me not be so embarrassed about taking them, and people didn’t even ask about what they were for. Others in our group have found their own ‘magic tricks’ to find their way through social situations while dealing with health issues. We don’t want to be looked at as being sick. With these ‘magic tricks,’ we become normal in friends’ minds.
When asked what she likes best about the group so far, Rachel replied, “At this age, we’re always worried about how we come off in situations. Do we look normal? It’s so refreshing in the group to be able to discuss things like our weirdest symptoms. You can say it and everyone gets it. No explaining. We can talk about medical conditions and feel normal about it … it’s very validating, we respect each other and we’re making instant friends!”
All in the Family
Want to meet Rachel’s mom and hear about her Lyme journey? Julia Patterson is the regional leader for PA Lyme’s Montgomery County Support Group. Click here to read her regional spotlight.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The more emersed I get in the PA Lyme Community, the more peoples’ stories resonate with me. While no experience is identical, the familiarities are there to my own journey, and this helps validate my experience. Perhaps some of the experiences in our regional spotlights resonate with you.
I hope you take comfort in the fact that you are not alone in this journey. If you need support or resources, please reach out to the regional support group in your area!