#understanding chronic illnesses

[champstorymedia]

Stress Management Tips for a Happier, Healthier You

Introduction: In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become a common issue that affects many individuals. Learning effective stress management techniques is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health. In this article, we will discuss various tips and strategies to help you manage stress and lead a happier, healthier life. Exercise Regularly Regular exercise is one of the most…

[salt-baby]

yes, doctors suck, but also "the medical ethics and patient interaction training doctors receive reinforces ableism" and "the hyper competitive medical school application process roots out the poor, the disabled, and those who would diversify the field" and "anti-establishment sentiment gets applications rejected and promotions requests denied, weeding out the doctors on our side" and "the gruesome nature of the job and the complete lack of mental health support for medical practitioners breeds apathy towards patients" and "insurance companies often define treatment solely on a cost-analysis basis" and "doctors take on such overwhelming student loan debt they have no choice but to pursue high paying jobs at the expense of their morals" are all also true

none of this absolves doctors of the truly horrendous things they say and do to patients, but it's important to acknowledge that rather than every doctor being coincidentally a bad person, there is something specific about this field and career path that gives rise to such high prevalence of ableist attitudes

and I WILL elaborate happily

[crystallized-anxiety]

A friend of mine recently broke her foot.

She's a wonderful friend. A deeply kind and considerate person. One of the first things she did after getting out of the hospital was to apologize to me.

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"Hun, you're the one with the broken foot. What are you talking about?"

"I had no idea it was so hard for you all the time... There are stairs everywhere... Even in places where there's supposed to be a lift. And often the lift doesn't work. And there's pavement where my crutches keep getting stuck.... I'm so tired because walking like this isn't the same but there are no benches where I can rest....

You tried to explain and I thought I understood.... But I really had no idea. And this is what it's like for you ALL THE TIME.... I'm so so so sorry"

God how I cried.

[decora-kai]

Ive seen posts about how disabled people should be able to have hobbies and how we should be able to do things that we like if we enjoy it and if it doesnt hurt us, and yeah I totally agree, but like unpopular opinion ig, let disabled people do things they enjoy even if it hurts them.

I, as a chronically ill person, have things I enjoy doing that arent that good for my pain levels. For example, I enjoy going on walks, just for like an hour or so around my town and in the forest. I will most likely have a flare up the day after/for a couple days after and my legs will be aching most of the way through walking but I love it, not the pain but the walking and seeing places (specifically the woods, i love the woods so much omdddd). Another example is video games, which may sound like an odd thing to flare from for some, but with fast paced video games on console or pc, my fingers get very stiff and achey from moving around so much so quickly, and it tires me to have to even use my eyes sometimes but I really like playing them.

Obviously there are way more examples that I've missed but the point still gets across. Let disabled people have hobbies, even ones that may mess up their pain levels, or make them extremely fatigued etc.

[majaurukalo]

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

ACCESSIBILITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

[wheelchairtetris]

IT IS OKAY TO BE A BURDEN! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE A BURDEN! IT IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOUR MORALITY!

[wiisagi-maiingan]

I'm all for natural remedies and traditional medicine, but I think when your "natural remedy" is based on the idea that water can become medicinal by being in the presence of a teeny itty bit amount of something, then it's probably bullshit and you're getting scammed. Go buy some ibuprofen or see a doctor.

[uncanny-tranny]

I think it would really benefit people to internalize that mental illnesses are often chronic and not acute. Some of us will never be able to jump the hurdle of managing illness, much less sustaining a sense of normalcy. Many of us will never "recover," will never manage symptoms, will never even come close to appearing normal - and this is for any condition, even the ones labeled as "simple" disorders or "easy-to-manage" disorders.

It isn't a failure if you cannot manage your symptoms. It isn't a moral failure, and you aren't an awful person. You are human. There's only so much you can do before recognizing that you cannot lift the world. Give yourself the space to be ill because, functionally, you are.

[lupusbaby]

Today my mom goes, “I went to bed so early last night! Have you ever been so exhausted that you feel achy and sick from it?” and me and my sister did The Look™ at each other and then I said “yes…constantly every day”

[champstorymedia]

The Cost of Neglect: Why Regular Health Check-ups are Essential for a Healthy Future

As we go about our daily lives, it can be easy to overlook the importance of regular health check-ups. Many of us may only visit the doctor when we are feeling unwell or experience symptoms that are too uncomfortable to ignore. However, the cost of neglecting regular health check-ups can be significant, both in terms of our physical well-being and financial stability. In this article, we will…

[swordsonnet]

lately, i've seen more people in the online autistic community acknowledging the struggles of people with higher support needs, which is of course an important development. but for some, that seems to come with the implicit assumption that low needs autistics "have it easy" or experience no stigma at all, which is just wrong??? people with low support needs are still disabled by their autism and still face discrimination because of it. sure, they are impaired to a lesser degree than those with higher support needs, but that doesn't mean you can just erase their struggles, y'know?

[primrosebitch]

One thing about brain fog that I don't really hear mentioned is how it makes conversations and hanging out with friends so hard, like there have been so many times I've been hanging out with friends and they're telling me something but I just can't comprehend it because of brain fog, or I can't think of anything to say to keep conversation flowing so I end up sitting there in silence, or how there are so many activities and games that I just can't join in on because my stupid brain won't cooperate.

[dizzy1ife]

"Remember when..."

No, I wasn't there. Nope. Not that one either.

That was when I first became ill and I was barely able to leave my bed and no one visited me for months.

[tombraiderrocker]

*wakes up*

Me: time for my routine

*convinces myself I am overacting/faking my chronic illness no matter how bad my symptoms are*

[penguins-in-pyjamas]

Something people don’t often talk about with chronic illness is the grieving. Having to grieve your old life or, -especially if you were diagnosed as a teenager like I was- the life you could have had. And having to come to terms with the fact that you can’t have that life, or even that you might never have that life, is so hard.

So anyone who is going through this, I see you, and I understand. I might not understand your specific circumstance but I can understand parts of it. You are doing amazing and I am so proud of you.

[pun-demon]

I think what scares me about relationships sometimes is the notion that, as a disabled person in need of SERIOUS help, it means the most anyone gets out of a relationship with me is...the fact I exist? Like people act like just knowing me makes this a fair transaction. Even if you want to argue that, clearly, that is the point, how do I safeguard that and continue to make people happy?

Chronic illness is exhausting, frustrating, isolating...and terrifying. I'm terrified by how little control I have over my own life, and sometimes it means knowing me is ugly. From the tooth decay to the pain-induced irritability, it's ugly. Is even that level of existence enough, and all people want is for me to save them a seat?

Even as I type this, I can't remember if I've already posted it before! And I'm to believe this is what people want??

I don't expect answers (although it would be cool...I love heartfelt introspective discussion but I worry my loved ones just think I yap and think too much). I once asked my uncle, a jovial Californian who worked as a performer for kids parties, who I would be when I degraded as far as possible - and his instant, firm reply was "Loved". And I never forgot that. Maybe he was right and that's all there is to it.