10 unexpected life lessons learned from chronic illness 1. People are both better and worse than you think Illness tends to bring out the best and the worst in people. You find out very quickly how awesome some of your friends and family are. People will be there for you that you might have never…Continue reading 10 unexpected life lessons learned from chronic illness
Tag: Living with chronic illness
Why no one cares about chronic illness, part 3
Read my much angrier part 1 and part 2 for background context of this post. I’ve learned a lot about humanity through having a chronic illness. When you’re sick you really see the best and the worst of human beings. I have been on the receiving end of some wonderful service, and I have also been…Continue reading Why no one cares about chronic illness, part 3
To the person with chronic illness that feels like they can never measure up
I know it feels like no one thinks about you, the quiet person in the corner who just looks a little tired. No one notices how hard you try or how much effort you put into pretending you’re okay. Sometimes it feels like they only notice you when you make a mistake, or when your…Continue reading To the person with chronic illness that feels like they can never measure up
You can’t just “try harder” when you live with chronic pain
People with chronic pain are constantly told that they need to try harder or put more effort into fixing their pain. For example, I found myself walking out of a meeting recently. It wasn’t a situation where anyone was trying to be insensitive or judgmental, and I wasn’t being criticized. Everyone speaking had the best…Continue reading You can’t just “try harder” when you live with chronic pain
30 things you may not know about my invisible illness
This week is invisible illness awareness week. In honor of that, here is 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know. You can read more of them at invisibleillnessweek.com. 1. The illness I live with is: Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia 2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2011 3. But I…Continue reading 30 things you may not know about my invisible illness
10 things I’ve learned through my invisible illness
1. You never know what a person is really going through when they have an invisible illness I am very good at putting on a front. I am the epitome of the “fake it till you make it” principle. On a normal day I might look a little tired, and be a little quiet but…Continue reading 10 things I’ve learned through my invisible illness
5 ways Fibromyalgia makes you awesome
Today I dropped a bunch of 2 x 4s on my foot. It’s swollen and bruised, but after letting off a few swear words I went back to my original task. My son asked me if I was going to rest my foot and was surprised when I told him no. His question made me…Continue reading 5 ways Fibromyalgia makes you awesome
5 “helpful” things that don’t really help people with chronic illness
1. Saying things like, “But you don’t look sick”! It’s really nice of you to say that I look good, but I have an invisible illness. You can’t see my pain, but believe me it is there. On a regular day I’m in more pain than most people could ever imagine, but I’m very good at…Continue reading 5 “helpful” things that don’t really help people with chronic illness
Positive thinking is a coping mechanism, not a cure
No one would ever accuse me of being an optimistic person. If you ask me if the glass is half empty or half full, I’d say that it has water in it. My family likes to tell me I’m like Eeyore because I was depressed in high school (because four years of depression in your teen…Continue reading Positive thinking is a coping mechanism, not a cure
10 struggles only people with chronic pain will understand
1. Putting on long pants When your thoughts go like this: “Can I lift my legs high enough? I’m so stiff I can barely move. How does anyone ever do this standing up? If I sit down on the floor to put them on will I be able to get back up again? ” Help,…Continue reading 10 struggles only people with chronic pain will understand