12/05/2023
As 12th of May is ME/CFS awareness day, I felt I had to make this little design and a little rant post (you don't have to read it, don't worry!) πππ
I started of this writing a long text about the effect and discrimination a lot of people face around this illness. But I realised that the only thing that really needs to be said is.. The most powerful thing we can do for each other is validate each other's feelings and experiences no matter what they're going through.
As ME/CFS is an invisible illness with a lot of discrimination, disbelief and general stigma, we tend to work harder to hide it. I never wanted to "moan" despite being in so much pain I wanted to throw up. I never asked for a seat on the train, even if my legs were shaking due to the exhaustion. I never used my wheelchair, because I couldn't face the judgement of "but she can walk". Yes, I can walk.. but it was detrimental to my health and caused me immense pain when I was at my worst.
And yet, the amount of people that will follow up "I'm really tired today" with "but obviously not like you" makes me sad. I don't need to be reminded that in your head I'm suffering, just like you don't need to feel guilty that you feel rubbish. Comparing yourself to other people isn't healthy, even if it is nearly impossible not to. Allow yourself to be tired, to have a bad headache or a sh*tty day. You may not be suffering with a brain haemorrhage, but in that moment, you're allowed to feel like that headache is the worst one in the world.
I believe that all we can do is try our best to treat everyone with compassion and understanding. No matter what they go through. My energy tank may be faulty, and my body may be run by people who don't speak the same language, but your experiences is just as valid as mine. I will never discredit your exhaustion, your headaches, your soreness or your sadness just because it's not the same as mine. We have different bodies, different experiences, different lives. All we can do is accept that we are different ππππππ