As you may know, my first speech was during invisible illness week, which was great because I could show how much the invisible aspect can have a negative effect on my life.
It is pictures like this that can shed some light on my illness, which can be dismissed by the most simple thing like a smile.
It is pictures like this that can shed some light on my illness, which can be dismissed by the most simple thing like a smile.
The invisible aspect can be a compliment because people do not realise how much I struggle sometimes, even if I am standing, laughing or smiling I could be having a major flare.
What I have always struggled with is lack of understanding from other people and that is what I am trying to address. I am speaking out about my health battle and providing little snippets of other peoples in the hope that we can be understood.
I am showing others that yes I have a chronic illness, yes it is invisible BUT I am a fighter. What I need most from others is support and recognition that I and many others are facing battles everyday. Our illnesses are now apart of our lives, it could be a temporary thing or permanent thing, we do not know.
We did not get a choice in this and there is no way to prevent it. But we have the choice to fight it best we can. Everyone's chronic illness differs, just as everyone may have one or multiple chronic illnesses. I have heard of many people in remission after a lot of time and effort changing their lifestyle and doing what they have to for their body. However, what may work for one person does not always work for another. I am not an expert but this is what I have learnt throughout my journey so far.
If anything, I would like people to be more understanding, I want to arm people with the knowledge, that just because we look okay does not mean we are not fighting our health everyday.
Some days we are okay and others we are not- again we do not get to choose when a flare will happen so please do not get frustrated if we are able to do one thing one day, but not again the next day. Be patient and understand it is 10 times more frustrating for us not having any control as to what we can and cannot do.
I want people to be kind and considerate... if you do not know what to say to someone with a chronic illness or me, here are a few brief things.
1. I wish I knew what to say but know that I am here to listen even if I do not have the words you need
2. Would you like me to come over and rest with you? I can bring some movies
3. Is there anything you need?
4. How are you feeling today?
5. I am thinking of you today
6. You are stronger than you believe.
What I have always struggled with is lack of understanding from other people and that is what I am trying to address. I am speaking out about my health battle and providing little snippets of other peoples in the hope that we can be understood.
I am showing others that yes I have a chronic illness, yes it is invisible BUT I am a fighter. What I need most from others is support and recognition that I and many others are facing battles everyday. Our illnesses are now apart of our lives, it could be a temporary thing or permanent thing, we do not know.
We did not get a choice in this and there is no way to prevent it. But we have the choice to fight it best we can. Everyone's chronic illness differs, just as everyone may have one or multiple chronic illnesses. I have heard of many people in remission after a lot of time and effort changing their lifestyle and doing what they have to for their body. However, what may work for one person does not always work for another. I am not an expert but this is what I have learnt throughout my journey so far.
If anything, I would like people to be more understanding, I want to arm people with the knowledge, that just because we look okay does not mean we are not fighting our health everyday.
Some days we are okay and others we are not- again we do not get to choose when a flare will happen so please do not get frustrated if we are able to do one thing one day, but not again the next day. Be patient and understand it is 10 times more frustrating for us not having any control as to what we can and cannot do.
I want people to be kind and considerate... if you do not know what to say to someone with a chronic illness or me, here are a few brief things.
1. I wish I knew what to say but know that I am here to listen even if I do not have the words you need
2. Would you like me to come over and rest with you? I can bring some movies
3. Is there anything you need?
4. How are you feeling today?
5. I am thinking of you today
6. You are stronger than you believe.