Thriving with an Invisible Chronic Illness

You have a chronic illness that is debilitating and requires meticulous management. Which is hard enough. But you also have an invisible illness—like fibromyalgia, diabetes, Lyme disease, IBS, or something very rare. On the outside, on most days, you look fine, even perfectly healthy. But on the inside, you’re struggling with unbearable migraines, knock-you-off-your-feet fatigue, dangerous digestive issues, severe pain and much more. Because people don’t see these symptoms, they misunderstand what’s going on, which leads you to feel judged and lonely. And these people might include everyone from medical professionals to your best friend. Or maybe you’ve yet to receive a diagnosis, and others suggest it’s all in your head. Daniela Paolone’s clients who have undiagnosed invisible illnesses often feel invalidated and dismissed by doctors and even loved ones, which leads them to feel isolated as well. Paolone, LMFT, is a holistic psychotherapist who specializes in working with people with chronic illness, pain and anxiety. She also lives with a rare invisible illness. Still, the worst critic, the cruelest bully, might be you. Maybe you bash yourself, launching into a litany of insults. Lazy. Weak. Worthless. You think thoughts like: “Don’t be a wuss, it’s just a headache,” or “If everyone else has the flu and can still make it till clock-out, my pathetic ass should too.” The latter examples come from Surviving and Thriving with an Invisible Chronic Illne...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Disorders General Health-related Inspiration & Hope Mental Health and Wellness Self-Help Chronic Illness Chronic Pain Coping Skills Resilience Source Type: blogs