Invisible Illness Awareness Week - September 14-20, 2009
I don't do many memes these day, but this one is in support of a good cause. The introduction was written by the friend I got this from, and I think it's a good introduction so I included it here.
Basically, an "invisible illness" is loosely defined as any pain condition that can't be seen visually by others. Crohn's Disease is a typical style medical condition that isn't visually obvious to anyone, but I hear tell the cramps and burning and vomiting can all be quite trying when it's 3 or more times per week every week for your whole life. A less typical one might be Autism, where visually you look like everybody else, but internally the high pitched tone a TV makes, the whine of fluorescent lighting, the reek of cologne, the excessive saltiness of all foods, is enough to make each day a full-frontal terrorist attack on all of your senses, which only adds to the daily confusion of a verbal world you have to re-symbolize into pictures in your mind's eye before you can comprehend it. Invisible illness is no joke when you live with one everyday, and you get stigmatized for it by anyone who chooses to believe "it's all in your head".
So, in support of Invisible Illness Awareness Week, I am proud to bring you my answers to 30 Things About Invisible Illness - My Story.
1. The illnesses I live with are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: ~2006 for GAD, but childhood for Depression
3. But I had symptoms since: As long as I remember
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Accepting that taking medication dramatically improves my functioning. I resent that fact that I can't "make it on my own."
5. Most people assume: I'm just overly emotional.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Right now morning are pretty good, but when things were bad the answer would be: dealing with the mind-numbing terror of facing the world.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don't watch TV.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My computer, but that is unrelated to this illness.
9. The hardest part about nights are: I'm lucky, nights have never been a problem for me.
10. Each day I take: 1 pill, 2 vitamins, and a nasal spray (for allergies)
11. Regarding alternative treatments: I once tried taking a mediation class to help with the anxiety and it made things worse for me. Having a panic attack in the middle of a stress management class is not fun. I'll stick with mainstream therapy from now on, but YMMV.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Never having had a visible impairment, I can't offer an informed answer to this question. Personally, I don't much care for hiding and silence, and so my instinct is to say visible.
13. Regarding working and career: Prior to getting treatment, I left three jobs because the stress was too much. Panic attacks were a serious problem, and I've been called unprofessional because of GAD symptoms. The desire to have a steady job and a real career is a large part of why I'm willing to take meds and stay in therapy.
14. People would be surprised to know: Probably a lot about me, but nothing related to this springs to mind.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: See thing is, for me, being diagnosed was part of a process by which things got better. My new reality is that I can face my fears, recover from negative thinking, and head panic off before it develops into a debilitating attack.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Have a healthy sexual relationship. Start a business.
17. The commercials about my illness: I try to avoid commercials.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: See my answer to 15.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: The idea that I can be successful without biochemical aids.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Helping run science fiction conventions.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: What is this "again" you speak of?
22. My illness has taught me: That sometimes the best way to make something better is to stop fighting it and start accepting it.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Comments about how women are too emotional. If I'm sad and nervous, it's not because of my gender.
24. But I love it when people: Accept me the way I am. Offer hugs and friendly jokes.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "It's going to be ok."
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You still have the right to make your own choices, starting with having a therapist who respects that.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How many other people have invisible illnesses.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Take me out of a stressful situation and let me talk about the issues.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I hate silences. Hiding our situations keeps us isolated, and that's not good for anyone.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Listened to and acknowledged. Thank you.
Basically, an "invisible illness" is loosely defined as any pain condition that can't be seen visually by others. Crohn's Disease is a typical style medical condition that isn't visually obvious to anyone, but I hear tell the cramps and burning and vomiting can all be quite trying when it's 3 or more times per week every week for your whole life. A less typical one might be Autism, where visually you look like everybody else, but internally the high pitched tone a TV makes, the whine of fluorescent lighting, the reek of cologne, the excessive saltiness of all foods, is enough to make each day a full-frontal terrorist attack on all of your senses, which only adds to the daily confusion of a verbal world you have to re-symbolize into pictures in your mind's eye before you can comprehend it. Invisible illness is no joke when you live with one everyday, and you get stigmatized for it by anyone who chooses to believe "it's all in your head".
So, in support of Invisible Illness Awareness Week, I am proud to bring you my answers to 30 Things About Invisible Illness - My Story.
1. The illnesses I live with are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: ~2006 for GAD, but childhood for Depression
3. But I had symptoms since: As long as I remember
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Accepting that taking medication dramatically improves my functioning. I resent that fact that I can't "make it on my own."
5. Most people assume: I'm just overly emotional.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Right now morning are pretty good, but when things were bad the answer would be: dealing with the mind-numbing terror of facing the world.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don't watch TV.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My computer, but that is unrelated to this illness.
9. The hardest part about nights are: I'm lucky, nights have never been a problem for me.
10. Each day I take: 1 pill, 2 vitamins, and a nasal spray (for allergies)
11. Regarding alternative treatments: I once tried taking a mediation class to help with the anxiety and it made things worse for me. Having a panic attack in the middle of a stress management class is not fun. I'll stick with mainstream therapy from now on, but YMMV.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Never having had a visible impairment, I can't offer an informed answer to this question. Personally, I don't much care for hiding and silence, and so my instinct is to say visible.
13. Regarding working and career: Prior to getting treatment, I left three jobs because the stress was too much. Panic attacks were a serious problem, and I've been called unprofessional because of GAD symptoms. The desire to have a steady job and a real career is a large part of why I'm willing to take meds and stay in therapy.
14. People would be surprised to know: Probably a lot about me, but nothing related to this springs to mind.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: See thing is, for me, being diagnosed was part of a process by which things got better. My new reality is that I can face my fears, recover from negative thinking, and head panic off before it develops into a debilitating attack.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Have a healthy sexual relationship. Start a business.
17. The commercials about my illness: I try to avoid commercials.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: See my answer to 15.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: The idea that I can be successful without biochemical aids.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Helping run science fiction conventions.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: What is this "again" you speak of?
22. My illness has taught me: That sometimes the best way to make something better is to stop fighting it and start accepting it.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Comments about how women are too emotional. If I'm sad and nervous, it's not because of my gender.
24. But I love it when people: Accept me the way I am. Offer hugs and friendly jokes.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "It's going to be ok."
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You still have the right to make your own choices, starting with having a therapist who respects that.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How many other people have invisible illnesses.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Take me out of a stressful situation and let me talk about the issues.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I hate silences. Hiding our situations keeps us isolated, and that's not good for anyone.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Listened to and acknowledged. Thank you.