30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
Posted on 2009.09.01 at 12:38Current Mood:
optimistic
1. The illness I live with is: Anxiety Disorder & Depression Disorders
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: the exact diagnoses changed a couple times over the years, but i was first officially diagnosed in highschool
3. But I had symptoms since: Since i was a young kid, I don't remember a time I didn't have these problems, although I am told I started acting this way around the time real social awareness kicks in. The depression has waned, but the anxiety disorder has gotten 100 times worse since I because an adult. Would you believe it, normal teenage anxiety mixed with honest bouts of depression was easier to handle than my current anxiety disorder.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: creating a safety net
5. Most people assume: I'm just looking for attention or need to be the center of attention
6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting out of bed
7. My favorite medical TV show is: St Elseware or Scrubs
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My iPhone {only because I don't think PC counts as a gadget}
9. The hardest part about nights are: not being able to sleep
10. Each day I take 3 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: strongly believe they can help SOME PEOPLE. after going through a few medications, and watching my mom go through a long sting of them, I gave up on traditional medications for myself for my anxiety
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I'm honestly not sure, both have many cons, but i supposed invisible because sometimes I can actually hide it.
13. Regarding working and career: I dropped out of college because I was having panic attacks and couldn't handle actually going to class anymore. That made getting a job very hard, other than retail. Eventually I quit working altogether because I was having panic attacks constantly when dealing with customers, and anxiety about my coworkers.
14. People would be surprised to know: Oddly, I'm an extrovert - so it is easier to live a life with friends I can see all the time online instead of face to face.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: losing so many friends, and not remembering how "normal" people make friends.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I flew to Portland Oregon and then to San Diego without my husband {who is my safety net} And spent a week at comic con sometimes with friends from my virtual community, but sometimes - and this is where the real pride is - I was off on my own meeting celebs or artists. Walking around that floor, with allllll those people. Not one panic attack!!!
17. The commercials about my illness: Make me feel ashamed for not continuing with conventional medications to make me "normal".
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: my independence - I often find it nearly impossible to do even the little things like go to 7-11 alone.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Time with my friends. The friends I used to spend a lot of time with don't really get it, and some get offended I'm not around or I don't make the effort to go out and see them {and in return they don't make the efforts to come and see me}. They don't really get how much mentally/emotionally it takes to go out and do stuff sometimes. Other times, I'm fine, which doesn't help their comprehension of what is going on with me. I'm usually pretty good with people coming to my house, home field advantage I suppose. Anyway, I've lost a lot of friends.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Alternate Reality Gaming
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Have an adventure...
22. My illness has taught me: I am stronger than I ever imagined, and I have over come a LOT.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: When people call me a drama queen or admit a refusal to understand or sympathise because I am not on conventional medications.
24. But I love it when people: spend time with me on my terms, or accept me for who I am disorder and all...
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: No Regrets!
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Take it one day at a time, and let yourself fall apart sometimes. Give yourself a break, even if no one else does. When your world feels like it is falling apart, step back and rise above it.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how many people don't consider my illness valid.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Hold me, talk to me, allow me to vent and not judge me. Doesn't sound like much, but it is the nicest thing anyone CAN do for me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Not only do I have invisible illnesses, but Many of my friends do as well. Most invisible illnesses are not Mentally related. One friend has Sjogren’s Syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease. About 50% of Americans have an invisible illness. we don't HAVE to feel so damned alone.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Hopeful, that you might understand better.
Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: the exact diagnoses changed a couple times over the years, but i was first officially diagnosed in highschool
3. But I had symptoms since: Since i was a young kid, I don't remember a time I didn't have these problems, although I am told I started acting this way around the time real social awareness kicks in. The depression has waned, but the anxiety disorder has gotten 100 times worse since I because an adult. Would you believe it, normal teenage anxiety mixed with honest bouts of depression was easier to handle than my current anxiety disorder.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: creating a safety net
5. Most people assume: I'm just looking for attention or need to be the center of attention
6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting out of bed
7. My favorite medical TV show is: St Elseware or Scrubs
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My iPhone {only because I don't think PC counts as a gadget}
9. The hardest part about nights are: not being able to sleep
10. Each day I take 3 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: strongly believe they can help SOME PEOPLE. after going through a few medications, and watching my mom go through a long sting of them, I gave up on traditional medications for myself for my anxiety
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I'm honestly not sure, both have many cons, but i supposed invisible because sometimes I can actually hide it.
13. Regarding working and career: I dropped out of college because I was having panic attacks and couldn't handle actually going to class anymore. That made getting a job very hard, other than retail. Eventually I quit working altogether because I was having panic attacks constantly when dealing with customers, and anxiety about my coworkers.
14. People would be surprised to know: Oddly, I'm an extrovert - so it is easier to live a life with friends I can see all the time online instead of face to face.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: losing so many friends, and not remembering how "normal" people make friends.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I flew to Portland Oregon and then to San Diego without my husband {who is my safety net} And spent a week at comic con sometimes with friends from my virtual community, but sometimes - and this is where the real pride is - I was off on my own meeting celebs or artists. Walking around that floor, with allllll those people. Not one panic attack!!!
17. The commercials about my illness: Make me feel ashamed for not continuing with conventional medications to make me "normal".
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: my independence - I often find it nearly impossible to do even the little things like go to 7-11 alone.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Time with my friends. The friends I used to spend a lot of time with don't really get it, and some get offended I'm not around or I don't make the effort to go out and see them {and in return they don't make the efforts to come and see me}. They don't really get how much mentally/emotionally it takes to go out and do stuff sometimes. Other times, I'm fine, which doesn't help their comprehension of what is going on with me. I'm usually pretty good with people coming to my house, home field advantage I suppose. Anyway, I've lost a lot of friends.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Alternate Reality Gaming
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Have an adventure...
22. My illness has taught me: I am stronger than I ever imagined, and I have over come a LOT.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: When people call me a drama queen or admit a refusal to understand or sympathise because I am not on conventional medications.
24. But I love it when people: spend time with me on my terms, or accept me for who I am disorder and all...
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: No Regrets!
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Take it one day at a time, and let yourself fall apart sometimes. Give yourself a break, even if no one else does. When your world feels like it is falling apart, step back and rise above it.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how many people don't consider my illness valid.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Hold me, talk to me, allow me to vent and not judge me. Doesn't sound like much, but it is the nicest thing anyone CAN do for me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Not only do I have invisible illnesses, but Many of my friends do as well. Most invisible illnesses are not Mentally related. One friend has Sjogren’s Syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease. About 50% of Americans have an invisible illness. we don't HAVE to feel so damned alone.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Hopeful, that you might understand better.
Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com
distressed
cranky
