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Hope These Quotes Brighten Your Life Today

Today’s quotes concern the varied aspects of our lives as chronically ill and invisibly disabled people. Some may elicit a chuckle. Others might challenge us. I hope they encourage you and brighten your day with joy. Invisible Disabilities “Invisible disabilities may rent my body, but they don’t own me!” @rowanmaya(on Twitter) “There’s a cultural misperception […]

Ways to Talk with Invisibly Disabled Family, Friends, and Strangers

Talking with invisibly disabled people is like conversing with anyone else. Mostly. Observer of storms – you without chronic illness – imagine you have a friend or family member with unusual, downright strange, symptoms, but they look just fine. What about strangers? The one with a disabled parking permit who exits their car and walks […]

Invisible Disabilities! But Why Don’t You See ME?

Chronically ill people often feel unseen by others. But why? Because social isolation may be caused by their invisible disabilities. And this leads to feeling lonely. Can the isolation be mitigated and the loneliness decreased? In the early years of my problems (after recovering from the initial severe injuries), my limitations did not isolate me […]

Suzan Jackson’s Finding a New Normal – A Book Review

Suzan Jackson’s Finding a New Normal: Living Your Best Life with Chronic Illness pictures living with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and several other chronic illnesses, for 20 years. Her two sons developed ME/CFS while children; one son no longer has it, but the other also contracted Lyme disease. So, Sue speaks from in-depth experience as […]

What People Are Seen in the Invisible Disabilities Community?

I see three groups of people in the world of invisible disabilities. First, I notice those living with chronic illnesses; my viewpoint is that of the hurting. Next, I recognize caregivers who also face great challenges; they have a distinct perspective. Third, I identify those who care but aren’t caregivers and who have an even […]

You Can See Me – But Do You Really?

This invisibly disabled woman hit a roadblock. I could not publish the originally scheduled guest post about long-term care because of technical glitches (caused by me). It will appear later. So, I have updated a previous post to remind everyone what invisible disabilities are and ways of identifying invisibly disabled people. Meanwhile, I am on […]

What Happens If You Come Over Unannounced – SpoonieEdition

© Bianca Miranda One Tough Spoonie A humorous look at what can happen if you just “drop-in” to see your chronically ill friend. --Connected Carole Which visit do you choose? Distressing or Enjoyable My phone rings and it’s a family member on the line saying, “Hey, I am right by your house, I […]

Learning to be Assertive Despite the Fatigue of Illness

Assertiveness is a trait many people find difficult to achieve. But when you add pain and fatigue into the mix, it can seem impossible, but assertiveness for invisibly disabled people is achievable . Lisa gives us ideas to follow. Just remember, there is a time to be assertive, and a time to refrain. Following article © […]

Loneliness Is Hard! Can You Help Me?

Do you know an invisibly disabled person? Think before you say, “No.” The key word is invisible, so you may know, work alongside, or attend school with such a person. Do you know someone who seems lazy? Maybe they are; but maybe they aren’t; maybe they live with severe pain and/or weakness. Does someone ignore […]

Relationally Speaking: What Not to Say

Relationships invisibly disabled people enjoy are enriched -- or otherwise -- by words people say. Imagine yourself in this scenario: You’ve had some unusual, or downright strange, symptoms for 5 years now. They come and go, but they never stay away. Your doctor finally found a name for it, but there is no cure. They […]

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