By foggy.brain 
5 Ways to help you accept to live with an invisible Chronic Illness, firstly I want to start by saying this is not a recipe. By sharing my experience I hope to help individuals suffering through a chronic Illness.
Early on before I was diagnosed I had a song playing in my head constantly: “what’s wrong with me, what’s wrong with me, what’s wrong with me”. It was not pleasant that’s for sure! As human beings (or at least my default) we try to find reason or fault. Why would this happen to me? Did I do something to cause this? and in my case, is this illness real?.
I was suffering with severe dizziness most day for most part of the day. I was having a very hard time functioning as the dizziness made me very tired and most of all gave me brain fog. It was a massive task to survive just one day. I kept wondering if it is a real condition.
After trying many different therapies, consulting all sorts of specialists I go a diagnose: “vestibular migraine“, at first I thought what is that even mean? I did reject the diagnosis for several years and kept fighting to find a solution to what I thought it had to be a physical issue. I was certain that I had to have either a tumour or a bone dysfunction of some sort. In a way I understand now I was trying to find something solvable.
Acceptance was really hard for me, it meant defeat! If it’s true I have “vestibular migraine” there’s no cure hence it was out of my control, so I thought!
In the path to acceptance I find the following steps helpful:
- Educate yourself. Ignorance will only make you frustrated, depressed and angry. Even if there’s no “cure” to your condition there is thousands of options that could help you find relief.
- Story playing the victim card. Yes it sucks to have an illness, yes it’s true is not fair and yes you don’t deserve to be miserable. But an attitude of defeat will only prevent you from taking control and trying to find something to help you.
- Realize you are not your disease. You have more to offer than what this condition limitations are in your life. Even if you can’t move because you are in so much pain the value of what you can bring is enormous. If you have family and children, think of the example you are giving them. What would you want them to learn or remember? You crying in despair, throwing your arms to the wind in defeat? Or maybe being grateful for what you actually do have?
- Find social connection especially with people suffering with your same condition. It will give you a sense of belonging and for an odd reason it will make you feel more “normal”. Beware of the groups that are a bit too negative and complain too much, try your best to surround yourself with positive, uplifting and resourceful groups to help you with ideas and motivate you to overcome your challenges.
- Keep a log of your symptoms and activities you did every day. It is important to help you identify your triggers. If you don’t know what makes your condition worse or better it will be very hard to manage it or control it. Review periodically to see what worked and repeat it. Same goes with what didn’t work so you avoid or eliminate entirely.
Lastly I would say try to be ok with your new normal. Forget about what the world says it’s normal it truly doesn’t matter!
Hope the few thoughts help you on your journey, I will keep sharing mine in hopes to help people suffering from chronic illness.