What I Do and Don't Want to Hear as a Person With Chronic Illness
Please stop telling me what I should do to “cure” myself. Stop providing unsolicited medical advice. Stop telling me I am too young to be so ill. Stop telling me I don’t “look” sick. Stop telling me if I changed my attitude, I would feel better. Stop telling me it could be worse, or I should just be thankful I do not have A, B or C illness.
Do tell me you do not understand what it is like to be chronically ill, but you are there for me to lean on, scream to vent to and cry to. Do tell me you hope I have more good days than bad. Do tell me I am strong, and we will win this fight together. Do tell me my frequent cancellations, inability to attend or leaving from events is OK. Do tell me that despite everything, you will stand by me, through friendship or family, and will support me.
Do tell me you understand that what I do not say is often more important than what I do say. Do tell me my silence roars. Do tell me I should never give up.
Do tell me you believe me. Do tell me you may not grasp the pain I hide so well behind a veil every day, but you are still rooting for me.
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Thinkstock photo via nathings.
I am passionate about helping people understand what it is like to be chronically ill, and hope that by spreading my story, other’s will not suffer the way I have had to, and that the world will begin to grasp what it is like to walk a day in our shoes. I am 28 years old, and have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. The goal was to become a lawyer, but life had different plans. I made one of the most difficult decision’s of my life by taking a medical withdrawal from graduate school my second semester. I am married to an amazing man, who loves me unconditionally despite all that he has to carry on his shoulders. Even on my best days, I truly do not deserve the empathy, compassion, and love that he gives me. We have two fur children – Rue and Balt (Instagram – rue.balt.take.america). Rue is basically my therapy dog, and always knows when something is not right. He is always by my side, and sometimes knows something is wrong even before I do. I have been diagnosed with: chronic migraines, chronic anxiety, depression, nocturnal panic syndrome, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, IBS, and POTS with overlapping IST.
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