If you've been reading for a little while (or know me well), you know I've been dealing with the ups and downs of pain (etc.) associated with fibromyalgia. This week is Invisible Illness Awareness Week and I've just stumbled upon this wealth of information about chronic pain and invisible illnesses people live with.
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Would you have guessed that 1 in 2 people in the USA are living with a chronic illness?
Or that 96% of illnesses are invisible?
One of the big messages of this campaign is to say "if you are in pain, you are not alone". That is a refreshing reminder for me and I hope it is for anyone else struggling with similar illnesses. A big moment for me was earlier this year when I realized that having headaches all the time and daily pain that wore me out was not normal. Although it wasn't anything others could physically see, I could feel it daily and decided I didn't want to sit around feeling miserable, not to mention making people around me feel the same way. If you feel this way (or know someone that does), seek treatments to free yourself from that burden and check out all of the articles on their site. I've already noted more articles to read (on coping with a chronic illness, seeing beauty through pain, accepting your diagnosis (noooo, I don't wanna), just to name a few) and videos to watch. Check it out and pass it along to anyone you think it might help.
Here's a relatable 2 minute video about what it's like living with a chronic illness.
To end on a hopeful note, here's a quote Nick has so thoughtfully encouraged me with:
"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated"
-Maya Angelou
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