I was thinking today that when we refer to an illness as being “manageable”, healthy people assume we mean we can “live with it easily”–but that isn’t true at all.
My illnesses might not be killing me just yet, but it still infringes upon my quality of life just about everyday. And I’m not saying that for pity. I’m saying it because it’s true and I don’t feel like healthy people understand that.
Manageable really just refers to the ability to lessen the intensity of certain symptoms (Is that even a good way to put it?)
It doesn’t mean I’m cured, or not in pain, or healthy .. at all.
I think this misunderstanding is adding to the lack of compassion and confusing the people around me about what chronic illness is, and what it’s like to live with one.
I think this is why it’s important for us to tell our stories.
~Unknown Author~
