My Life as 'Little Miss Brain Fog'

Little Miss Brain Fog lived in a normal house on a normal street surrounded by normal people.

Little Miss Brain Fog also looked normal, but had an illness with an extraordinarily long name, myalgic encephalomyelitis, which it is easier to call ME.

 

Like its name, myalgic encephalomyelitis is also rather complicated and extraordinary. The illness made Little Miss Brain Fog feel like Little Miss Dotty, Little Miss Scatterbrain, Little Miss Fickle, Little Miss Whoops, Mr. Bump, Mr. Topsy Turvey, Mr. Forgetful, Mr. Lazy, Mr. Muddle, Mr. Dizzy, Mr. Grumpy, Mr. Clumsy, Mr. Worry, Mr. Slow and Mr. Grumble all rolled into one.

Along with a few others you may not have heard of before, such as Little Miss Ouch, Little Miss Confused, Little Miss Sleepy and Little Miss Lonely. In the morning when it was time to get up, Little Miss Brain Fog found it very difficult to get out of bed because of feeling unwell and tired. People thought she was like Mr. Lazy, but she really wanted to be up and doing things like Little Miss Busy and Mr. Rush.

Once out of bed, Little Miss Brain Fog used a lot of energy getting her breakfast and getting ready. It was hard work and she felt very like Mr. Slow.

Little Miss Brain Fog has difficulty doing things for herself and often needs help. This makes her feel like Little Miss Useless.

After getting ready, Little Miss Brain Fog tries to do things, but because of feeling ill and not being able to concentrate or think properly, she feels like Mr. Muddle, Mr. Clumsy, Mr. Dizzy, Little Miss Dotty, Mr. Forgetful, Little Miss Scatterbrain and Little Miss Whoops all in one. This is what brain fog feels like and why she is called Little Miss Brain Fog.

Little Miss Brain Fog finds it difficult to get out and meet people and join in activities. People think she is like Mr. Rude and Mr. Uppity, but it’s actually because of the brain fog and feeling so ill and in pain. All the other people in Normal Town seem to have fun and know lots of people and do lots of things. Little Miss Brain Fog feels left out and lonely as well as being ill.

When Little Miss Brain Fog does go out, she feels like Mr. Silly as she needs to use a wheelchair and people don’t think “normal-looking people” should use wheelchairs. As well as not being able to walk, Little Miss Brain Fog finds the light, noise and business of Normal Town very overwhelming and just wants to go home or find a place called Peace and Quiet Land – which doesn’t seem to exist.

Little Miss Brain Fog has to rest during the day, but she really wants to be like Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Busy, Little Miss Quick, Little Miss Tidy, Little Miss Fun and Little Miss Somersault.

Little Miss Brain Fog tries her hardest all the time and wants to be like Mr. Strong and Mr. Perfect, but the harder she tries the worse the extraordinary illness becomes and she feels like another unknown Mr. Pathetic.

Have you ever tried to run a marathon through treacle while in pain, with lots of noise and flashing lights around you, while carrying the weekly shopping? You haven’t? This is what doing a very ordinary task feels like to Little Miss Brain Fog – for example, walking upstairs and then when you get to the end you become Little Miss Scatterbrain and forget why you are there and have to do the whole marathon again.

Have you ever been so tired that all you want to do is go to bed for a good sleep? Little Miss Brain Fog feels like this all the time, but when she tries to sleep, she can’t – how very peculiar!

Have you ever spun around until you feel so dizzy you fall over? This is what Little Miss Brain Fog feels like standing still. How bizzare!

Little Miss Brain Fog might look normal, or appear to be like Mr. Lazy, Little Miss Scatterbrain, Little Miss Whoops or Mr. Rude. Actually, she is like some very special people inside, such as Mr. Strong, Mr. Impossible, Mr. Clever, Mr. Brave, Mr. Good, Little Miss Splendid, Little Miss Star, Little Miss Wise, Little Miss Brainy and Little Miss Stubborn.

She would love to be Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Giggles, Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Busy, Little Miss Fun, Mr. Happy, Mr. Bounce, Mr Clever. and Mr. Busy.

So remember: the next time you see a person, they might not be who you think they are. Appearances are deceptive.

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