One interesting thing about being an adult is that you don't really get to take sick days. Earlier this week my carcass decided to tap out, which was really rather inconvenient and beyond annoying. Many times throughout the year, and especially during the fall and winter, I get flares. I don't know about ya'll, but one really needs one's cognitive function to function, so when a person is thinking-impaired by an autoimmune attack flair, it's sorta not helpful.
A cool silver lining is I am really rather well experienced in functioning in a not quite all there state. It really takes it out of me though, so the last few days have been a bit of a trial. If you can imagine someone firmly grasping your brainstem from the base of your skull all the way up through the middle of your cranium and squeezing repeatedly with a rude amount of force, that's part of what I am going through.
Plus the insects. I hate the insects. It feels like millions of little creepy crawlies are traipsing all over my skin, while at the same time my bones actually radiate pain.
Good times.
But, being an adult awaits no matter what. So through my cloud of brain fog I wrote papers and did reading assignments, I paid bills, I stacked firewood. I took care of my family and homestead. There is no rest for the wicked and no convalescing for the chronically ill.
We just keep going.
Now, I don't write this out of a desire for sympathy, empathy, or accolades. Nope, I write this as a situation-defining missive on behalf of members of the chronically ill community. We have tons of practice functioning, in fact, most people wouldn't know we are struggling to function.
The thing is, we often just keep going because we don't know how to stop, and honestly, if we did, we might not start back up again. that fear is real.
So, when I write posts about dehydrating garlic for winter use, my adventures in travel, and all of the glorious interactions that I get to experience in my day to day life adventure, just know that I am doing that from a place of pain most of the time.
Pain and an absolute elation that I am alive and experiencing the world, even if it is through a haze of hurt most days.
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The chronic illness crash is no joke. I should take a page out of the progressive activist playbook and condemn the healthy as privileged when they fail to understand.
!PIZZA sounds really good right now for some reason.
Aww, thanks for the !PIZZA, I feel so dang privileged 😁
!PIZZA
I regret to report that I totally understand what you are saying! We just keep going, and pretending to be doing ok when we really aren't.
I am so sad that we share an understanding in this instance. Soldiering on is indeed what we do, hope you had a fantastic weekend though!😊
!PIZZA
Yup, know this all too well. The pain doesn't start until I stop though. iI's just the exhaustion and brainfog that's the worst. And yup, one must just keep going...as much as one can...
I hate the brain fog more than any of it! I hope that this weekend you have had very little of that and pain, I for sure know though that you kept going in spite of it if you did!
!PIZZA
There is no rest for the wicked and no convalescing for the chronically ill. This sounds a little harsh to yourself, of course you are not the wicked.
Adding to that, we have to keep pushing. stay strong friend, life is a challenge.
Be careful telling people suffering from chronic illness to "just keep pushing." When someone feels like they're already pushing to their breaking point and beyond, what you might believe is motivational can instead be discouraging. You wouldn't tell someone with a broken leg to "just keep pushing" through a marathon, would you?
Everyone actually needs to stay as positive as possible. Aside from chronic illnesses, we all face challenges that looks chronic. One encouragement may be just enough to change a negative decision. I have heard of situations where one planned a suicide until an unexpected call changed the situation. We all need encouragement
I'm not saying to to offer encouragement. I'm saying what a healthy person sees as encouragement might not be received as encouragement. When someone is out of gas, do you tell them to keep driving? No, you offer to fill the tank.
I am my own worst critic lol! Thanks for the kind words my friend, I hope you had a most splendid weekend!!
!PIZZA
Of course I did, welcome to the new week. Hope we stick around.
I don’t like insects as well. My skin hasn’t been good for sometime now due to insect bites. Well, I hope you get well soon
Oh no! I hope those insects leave you alone! That sounds miserable!
Thanks for the well wishes and I hope you feel better soon too!
!PIZZA
$PIZZA slices delivered:
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