invisableillness

The problem with having severe mental illness and trauma, or really any disability for that matter...

If you don't act "disabled enough" in public, people assume you're fine and should be functioning just like everyone else... If you're able to hold a conversation, or go to a social event, or work a job, or go to the grocery store, or clean your house, even part of the time, people assume you're absolutely fine and faking/exaggerating your symptoms. Even if I can do the task once and fail the next ten times, people think because I did it once I'm 100% fine.

But if you act "too disabled" people think you're "crazy" and a burden and want nothing to do with you. If you're suicidal, out of control, crying, self-harming, having flashbacks, getting angry for "no reason", canceling plans, unable to work, can't keep up with responsibilities, can't go out in public, can't clean, or can't socialize, people get tired of you, ignore you, get mad at you, blame you for your symptoms, and don't want to be around you.

This also applies to physical and intellectual disabilities and chronic illness. For example, being able to walk. If a person in a wheelchair walks once in a while, they aren't "cured" or faking it or not trying hard enough, they're still disabled! Disabilities don't present in the same way every day. Some days I can go to an appointment and then clean for six hours and be absolutely fine, and some days, like today, simply opening an incorrect bill will trigger a severe and disabling meltdown for several hours. We have good days and bad days. We are trying harder than you can imagine. Please understand and be patient with us.

Nobody is faking their trauma or disability. Nobody is exaggerating their symptoms. Nobody is pretending as an excuse to avoid responsibility. We are doing the best we can. We need compassion and understanding from those around us. We're trying so hard. Every day is hard for us and we're doing our best. Please try to understand.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and/or experiences with us. We are here to support one another and lift each other up.

Thank you all!

#MultipleHealthChallenges #invisableillness #Depression #Anxiety #youarenotalone #mighty contributor #warriors #Fybromyalgia #Gastroparesis @moshe222mhc

Why is it so hard to tell our loved ones about our diagnosis. For some reason, it makes me feel as if I am letting them down. I am crushing their dream that one day I will get better. I don’t want to further burden them with knowing everything that is difficult about being my friend will never change. I am taking away their hope that I can go back to the old me. The funny thing is, I was never okay. I never have felt “normal”. I have always struggled to show up. I have always had this condition, just now I feel validated for how hard I struggle to be “normal”. It’s hard to explain that I will only get worse. There will be more things I can’t do. More obvious signs that I’m not okay. It’s hard to tell a loved one a diagnosis because you become the bad guy. Even though you’re the one struggling, you’re now obligated to make the person not feel bad for your diagnosis. To ensure them that ‘it’s okay, I’m fine’, the unofficial moto for the chronically ill.

For some reason, it’s hard for me to tell my loved ones about my diagnosis because I don’t want to hear ‘it’ll get better’ or ‘have you thought about…’. Trying to tell people and the look they give you, as if you have told them, it’s contagious and they might catch it. Trying to explain that it’s genetic, but just getting blank stares. Allowing them the time to grieve my diagnosis, one that I haven’t even fully grieved. Feeling the shift in the air, as if the person they have always known is gone and a stranger is standing in front of them. The tip toeing around certain subjects. Or the looks they give you when someone else is complaining that they feel bad, their eyes almost saying ‘you are so much more broken’. The deep breaths given when explaining you’re just too weak or tired to attend.

It’s hard to tell my loved ones about my diagnosis because I’m worried they will leave me. I’m worried that they’ve held on to the hope that dealing with me and my issues has an end. I’ve shattered their hope that I’ll bounce back. Shattered the idea that they can no longer trust the way I look, because my condition is invisible.

It’s hard to tell my loved ones about my diagnosis because I’m worried they won’t trust me anymore. I’m worried they won’t trust me when I tell them ‘Today’s a good day’ or ‘I promise, I will come’. I’m worried that my word will just turn into background noise, and they will start to make decisions for me. I’m worried opportunities will be taken away from me because they don’t trust me to know what I’m capable of.

It’s hard to tell my loved ones about my diagnosis because it’s hard for me to acknowledge my diagnosis. It’s hard for me to allow myself to be vulnerable when the professionals didn’t believe me. It’s hard for me to share my diagnosis because so much has changed already and the thought of losing people is harder than feeling alone in the knowledge of my diagnosis. It’s hard for me to share my diagnosis because at the end of the day, it doesn’t change that not matter the reaction or loss, my diagnosis is here to stay.

#EDS #HEDS #invisableillness #ChronicIllness

I'm starting to feel the walls closing in on me. Too much news, yet can't turn away. Death counts, new cases. Stay home, prepare, wash , etc... I'm really reaching freak out level. Not to mention I'm terrified to know what the 401k looks like. I know stress like this can trigger a bipolar episode. I know my OCD and anxiety are making things worse. My spouse just is acting like I'm over reacting, but I don't think she realizes I'm prone to this due to my mental health. I'm scared for my mental health as well as my physical health at this point. Anyone else? Please tell me I'm not alone. #BipolarDisorder #OCD #MentalHealth #invisableillness #CheckInWithMe #Anxiety #CoronaVirus