Tag: #depression

What’s the one party that no one wants to be invited to?  Yup, that’s right. A pity party. When I share about concussions, my spine injuries, or even migraines, its with the intent to further understanding.  True, I want people to understand what I face on a daily basis, but I don’t want pity. I want empathy and understanding. I want people to know that when I am hesitant to make plans, or have to cancel at the last minute due to not feeling well, well, I want them to know it’s the truth and it’s not something I take lightly.

On the flipside, I also want family and friends to recognize that when I DO show up, when I DO accomplish a mundane task like cooking a full meal, attending a friend’s party, or even washing and folding a basket of laundry, it IS a really BIG deal.  Those tasks can be momentous for me on any given day- and more often than I would like, they are out of reach. Think about that. I know no one WANTS to do laundry, and we certainly bemoan the constant question of “What’s for dinner?” But what if you just couldn’t manage those tasks on a regular basis?  What if you had to face your husband, day after day after a full day of work and school, and admit that dinner wasn’t something you had enough energy left to accomplish. That would frustrate all parties involved.  

The constant challenge for people with chronic illness to complete the mundane tasks of everyday life is not one that too many people recognize unless they have experienced it themselves. Think of how it feels the first week or two after having the flu- how everything is exhausting and takes so.much.extra.energy. Even showering.  That is what it feels like on a regular basis to live with chronic illnesses.

So while I don’t need a parade in my honor when I DO show up at a school event or a party;  I DO want people to recognize how much harder it was for me to accomplish the same tasks that so many take for granted. And ultimately, I want that understanding to motivate others to appreciate their own lives.