Imagine walking down a busy street. Look at the faces of the people walking past you in the street. Every one of those people will currently, or at some point in their history has faced a battle. One of them may be living with a battle that I currently face; a battle of living with an invisible illness.
Invisible Battles, Known Only To Those Fighting Them
Some of these battles may be visible, detectable to others, eliciting empathy and compassion. Other conflicts, however, are invisible; concealed from everyone else, like a deeply hidden secret – a struggle known only by the person carrying the burden of the fight.
I am one of those people who is fighting an unseen, invisible fight. If you were to see me, you would never know that I have a neurological condition — the only signs being when I am staggering along with my crutch. Or on the days where weak legs confine me to the use of a wheelchair, even then I am met with stares silently asking why I need such aids.
"I am one of those people who is fighting an unseen, invisible fight—an invisible battle of living with an invisible illness." Share on XFor Me It is Not An Invisible Illness, It Is My Life
The personal fight I face as a result of my neurological condition although may not be visible to others, for me, however, is very real. For me, it is not an invisible illness; it is my life. Every step is a struggle, with legs trembling so much that it feels as if they will buckle, although no one can see. For others, the world is still, unmoving.
The world in my experience, however, seems off-balance. As though everything is slightly tilted. At other times it seems as if there is constant motion. Every day I fight against fatigue and for the ability to do everything that everyone often takes for granted. Such as being able to go shopping, take a shower or cook a meal for the family.
"For me, it is not an invisible illness; it is my life." Share on XEvery day is a battleground between myself and my body. Like with any battles in history, there are times I am forced to surrender. Such as those days when my legs are so weak. Or the dizziness so severe that I am unable to get out of bed. The days I am forced to surrender to my condition and stay confined to my bed. That’s the thing about living with a chronic illness; it is often a balancing act between surrendering to our symptoms and fighting against them.
"Every day is a battleground between myself and my body." Share on XThe Fight Against The Assumptions of Others
It is not just the symptoms that we have to fight. We also have to fight against the judgements of other people regarding our long-term health conditions. At the start of our chronic illness journey, people greet our new circumstances with understanding and compassion, friends and family make allowances for our limitations. As time passes, however, the understanding and compassion dissipate, replaced with frustration. Frustration at us still not being well enough to go out and take part in activities we used to before illness took over our lives.
The grievance at the chores still left untouched as illness still will not allow me to attend to them. My parents, although supportive and understanding will sometimes feel embittered at finding certain chores untouched. Some days have to be waived for a day on the sofa due to debilitating and unrelenting symptoms. And they are unaware of this as to look at me, you only see a healthy woman.
To Live With An Invisible Illness Instead of Surviving
It may seem that the neurological condition takes a significant amount of space in my life; it, however, does not own or control me. Yes, it may borrow my life at times, restraining me to the four walls of this house I live in, but the condition does nor ever will take my entire life. There are certain things that I am unable to do because of this condition. Particular baggage that it has created, but there are still plenty of other things that I can and have done that I can still do.
This unseen condition may fight for control for every facet of my personal life. Now, however, I have chosen to fight back. Although I have not won control for every area of my life, I have elected to manage aspects of my life that I do have control over. I have chosen to live side by side with my condition instead of merely enduring life with it.
"I have chosen to live side by side with my condition instead of merely enduring life with it." Share on XI choose to live rather than simply survive.