Grass pollens are my worst enemies in the summer, and it feels like they are always lurking, ready to overwhelm me with their inevitable symptoms. It is frustrating to know that I cannot avoid contact with this nasty allergen.

The symptoms I experience are very similar to severe cold symptoms. My days are filled with frequent sneezing, runny nose, burning eyes and shortness of breath. It is almost as if inhaling or touching pollen automatically results in these discomforts. It is hard to understand why my immune system judges harmless pollen as harmful and gives me such a violent reaction.

It's exhausting. These cold-related symptoms are simply reactions of my immune system, but they feel anything but simple. I'm all over the place and feeling miserable right now. It exhausts me and I feel like I have nowhere to go to escape this endless cycle of sneezing and stuffiness.

Sometimes a sense of self-pity creeps up on me. It is hard to see others enjoying the summer days while I feel so limited by my hay fever. It is as if I am trapped in my own body, while others can breathe freely and enjoy all that this time of year has to offer.I have to remind myself regularly that this season does not last forever, and that better days will come.