How chronic illness changed the way I travel: "My life cannot be lived spontaneously or with abandon but it is still expansive, joyful and full of possibility"

"A reality of my life, one I have had to work hard to accept, is that sometimes my body has different plans than I do. This is never more prevalent than when travelling. Changes in climate, the toll of long-haul flights, even something as small as how the water affects my skin or the shift in time zones can make a marked difference."

"At 25, I was canoeing in New Zealand off the Bay of Islands, glass-like water shimmering for miles around me as we scanned the horizon for wild dolphins. My best friend and I spent almost a month hopping from hostel to hostel, drinking rosé on remote idyllic islands, eating poke bowls in surf towns and sightseeing across the lush landscapes."

"By the time I landed back in England, I had developed erythrodermic psoriasis, a rare and severe form of the condition that can be triggered by extreme heat. My dermatologist had only ever seen it once in her 40-year career. During the final stretch of the trip, I lived in a constant low level of pain."

Chloe Laws shares her experience managing two chronic illnesses—psoriasis and polycystic ovarian syndrome—diagnosed at 18 and 30 respectively. Both conditions run in her family, causing recurring flare-ups and constant body awareness. Travel particularly challenges her due to climate changes, long flights, time zone shifts, and environmental factors affecting her skin and fatigue levels. A pivotal experience at 25 in New Zealand demonstrated these risks when sun exposure triggered erythrodermic psoriasis, a rare severe form requiring hospitalization. Laws emphasizes the importance of accepting that her body sometimes has different plans than intended, necessitating flexibility, rest prioritization, and realistic expectations when traveling or pursuing activities.

Read at CN Traveller