Living with an invisible illness can be incredibly isolating. From mental health conditions to certain chronic and autoimmune diseases, living with an illness that others can’t see can lead to judgement, stigma and widespread lack of understanding.
Living with an invisible illness often leads to judgement and criticism because others believe you look fine on the outside, and therefore must be “making up” your suffering. Being doubted so often can sadly make you doubt yourself because you feel like you’re going crazy when you feel so sick but no one can see that there is anything wrong- especially when diagnostic tests come back with nothing.
But with all this negativity don’t forget to give yourself credit for powering through each and every day, especially when the days can feel so long and difficult.
Prioritize YOU
If your list of to-dos doesn’t include you, then you need a new to-do list. Schedule yourself first, whether it’s doctor’s appointments, massages, acupuncture, therapy, exercise, whatever it is that helps reduce stress and anxiety for you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Sometimes we need help, whether it’s as simple as having your partner bring you medication and water or having a friend pick up your groceries. There is no shame in asking for help, and you can always return the favor once you’re feeling better.
Chronic illnesses can also cause sadness, frustration, and anger. Finding a way to release these emotions is very important. There is no right way to do this, what works for one person might not work for another, but finding a way to release negative emotions is crucial to taking care of yourself.
It is so important to listen to your body. Don’t feel guilty if your body is telling you to stay in bed all day or to pass up on the workout or cancel dinner. There is a difference between not wanting to do something but knowing you really should make the effort and your body absolutely crying out that it cannot handle anything extra. Your body knows when you need to conserve energy. If you don’t feel up to doing something, rest and recover.
Taking care of you will allow you to heal and thrive. This, in turn, will allow you to now give some of your time and energy to others because you have taken your own time to self-care first.
