Living With an Invisible Disease

Living with any disease is a  hassle, but living with an invisible disease creates an entirely new set of problems. When someone is sick people expect to be able to see some sort of sign that it is true. If they do not see something that proves the person is sick then they automatically begin to assume that there is nothing wrong. This can prove to be extremely difficult for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Imagine how it would feel to be completely disabled with pain and fatigue and have people look at you and tell you to stop faking it. It hurts when anyone says it, but unfortunately the most common critics are family and loved ones. The people you expect to support you the most end up thinking you are just being lazy and faking an illness. Not only is this completely frustrating, it is also extremely depressing. Living with an invisible disease can create insecurities that slowly evolve into complex mental illnesses if there is no support or help.

Finding a support network, whether it be family or complete strangers, is vital to living with an invisible disease. Having someone to listen to you when you need to vent is important. If you can find someone who has the same illness it is even better. They understand exactly what you are going through and can relate to the small symptoms as well as the larger ones. Having someone that can say they know how you feel and know how to make you feel better can make all the difference.

It is important to try to block out what others say about you. If you worry too much about what others think then you will be wasting time and energy. Remember that you are sick and you are in pain no matter what they say. If they don't believe you then it is there problem; you know the truth. Don't let others convince you that you are ok when you know how sick you are.