This week has been named National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. I think WEGO Health explains it well: “September 10-16th is Invisible Illness Week – a week centered around the idea that, just because others can’t see it – doesn’t mean your experience, your pain, your reality isn’t exactly that: real. This year’s theme is ‘Invisible Illness? Share Your Visible Hope!'”
I have dealt with this for a long time. If you feel generally down for as long as I did, you learn how to hide it pretty well. I still had my times where others could tell I was run down, but I don’t think many realized how difficult it was to hold it together day-after-day. My bar for feeling good was so low that even I didn’t always realize just how bad I actually felt.
It’s so important for people to realize that just because someone may not look like they are going through a hard time, doesn’t mean that they’re exaggerating the way they feel. It’s difficult enough dealing with the symptoms without having to justify not being able to take part in every activity.
This week presents a great opportunity to shed light on the pain and difficulties that live in the shadows and I hope to be able to be a part of it.