We Can’t Win

annieelainey:

Being chronically ill is having literally every breath you take scrutinized. You’re smiling, laughing, getting around okay, maybe even jump or dance: “It can’t be that bad, you look fine!” You are stuck in bed from the pain, illness, & fatigue: “Just try harder, make an EFFORT”

Ya know what, folks? Just let chronically ill people survive their daily lives in the best way they know how. You are not in their body, you will NEVER know how hard they push themselves; how every joy, every physical action was fought for, how LOW every low actually is.

Because of internalized ableism we rarely, if EVER, show people our lowest lows. There’s an added pressure to be presentable, to blend in, to do things as independently as possible so we don’t feel like “burdens” or “buzzkills” to those around us!

Trust chronically ill people when they tell you their limits, they don’t need to “make an effort” they NEED a break, They’re putting their best efforts every day of their lives and it goes completely unacknowledged.

Chronic illness is a full-time job on its own:  

-Researching your illness
-Organizing data
-Arranging doctor’s appointment
-Emotional/physical labor of said doctor’s appointments
-Experimenting with treatments
-Pushing through symptoms to continue daily life 

If you’re LUCKY your doctor isn’t an obstacle in regards to attaining your diagnosis or treatment,

If you’re **lucky** MONEY isn’t an obstacle in regards to attaining your diagnosis or treatment.

Chronically ill people are fighting for themselves EVERY DAY; even those with an episodic chronic illness that impacts their lives rarely and on occasion, they’re metaphorically and constantly walking on a tightrope, avoiding triggers, anxiously waiting for the next episode.

So next time you’re puzzled about how a chronically ill person is doing any particular activity or maybe you think that they’re only sick because they’re not trying hard enough… worry about yourself instead.

You don’t know their body, you are not in their body, you don’t know what it feels like, you DO NOT get to make that call.

Original Twitter Thread:
https://twitter.com/annieelainey/status/941392361216716800