Anyone who suffers from a chronic illness can attest to how miserable it can be. For anyone who has the pleasure of not being chronically ill, allow me to say I envy you, and furthermore, that you probably have absolutely no inclination as to what it is like being sick or in pain all of the time.
That is not intended to come across as an insult; rather, speaking from my own experience, unless you have personally experienced chronic illness or pain, you’re more than likely blissfully unaware of how awful it is. I don’t wish chronic illness or pain on anyone, but occasionally, I do contemplate how beneficial it would be if people could temporarily experience the misery of it to generate better awareness, education, and understanding.
It can be incredibly frustrating dealing with individuals who are ignorant of chronic conditions and what they entail, specifically people who refuse to educate themselves on the topic if it has direct relevance to them, for example, if someone in their own life is suffering. It is mind-blowing to acknowledge how many folks perceive chronic pain and illness, when it is not affecting them, as an inconvenience, or even as a crutch; allow me to be clear when I say that anyone living with a chronic condition more than likely did not choose or ask for it, and furthermore, that their discomfort is anything but a cry for attention. If anything, people who are chronically ill try to keep their conditions to themselves to avoid being perceived as a burden, and this is one of the many harsh realities of living with a chronic condition.
Chronic pain and illness are not things to be taken lightly, nor are they minor conditions. It isn’t enjoyable being in pain all of the time, and it definitely isn’t something to minimize.
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
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