What to Do When Overwhelmed By Exhaustion

CFS = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome*

What should you do when you are overwhelmed by exhaustion? STOP! Stop doing. But stop doing    WHAT? Whatever it is that you are doing, duh... It sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? But with the reality of life such as cooking, cleaning, taking care of the house, the dogs, and living the life of luxury of a disabled person and not working, HA (Had you going for a moment there didn't I. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you). Something has to give. 

The first thing you need to do is rest whenever possible. Next if you aren't use to prioritizing now is the time to start. First on that list should be REST. If you don't rest optionally now and force yourself to keep going, your chronic illnesses will force you into a mandatory rest or heaven forbid a permanent rest in peace. Understand that this may even mean missing things you had really wanted to do and looked forward too. It stinks; you can throw a tantrum if you want. But I'd suggest you don't. It takes too much energy. 

Simply tasks as much as possible and/or delegate them. Can your kids safely make dinner while you supervise? Must your dinner be served on real plates when paper would do? Face it, it is either going to be the paper plates that turn into fertilizer for the earth or you. What's it going to be? Frankly, I'm too young to die; therefore, at my house it is often paper plates and takeout meals. Or it might be meals I prepared on "good" days.

Finally, it is important to make peace with the fact that you can't do everything. Not even healthy people can. We all have just 24 hours in a day. So rather than issuing a statement about the fact that I'm so sorry I haven't been blogging for X number of days, I'll simply tell you I was exhausted by life. I'm sure you've all had days, weeks, months, and unfortunately for some of you - years like that. I wish all of us a refreshing rest.

*The cartoon is from a blog called My Burn Out Thing. Megan Hills is the fabulous Cartoonist.

How It Feels to Have an Invisible Illness

source

Allowing your invisible illness to show is akin to "standing naked in a crowded room of well dressed people."  I saw this statement on the blog site, Sick Momma and all I could picture was the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.

In case you have forgotten it: Once upon a time there was this Emperor that was so full of himself that he was easily trick by gangsters posing tailors. They said they'd make him some duds that only non fools could see. So when they bought the Emperor the suit and he couldn't see it, he thought OMG, am I a fool or what. And not wanting to appear a fool, he pretended to put the invisible suit on, when in truth there was nothing there. So the old fool, the emperor, went out in public in his invisible clothes. No one wanted to tell the Emperor that he was naked except for a punk kid. But the Emperor continued to pretend he was still dressed because he didn't want to appear the fool that he was.  

The Emperor was "naked' in crowd of dressed people. That is how the people with an invisible chronic illness feel, naked. Those with invisible chronic illnesses feel vulnerable, living in a world of healthy and whole people. 


Those with invisible chronic illnesses walk around with their mask on. They only let there mask slip a bit to let there nearest and dearest friends and family know about their illness. But they shouldn't have to live this way. Having medical issues doesn't mean the person was cursed by God, a sign of moral failings, a sign of weakness, or they in some way deserved to become ill. It just simply means they are ill.

Invisible chronic illnesses are easy to hide. You can hide them from others and you can deny them to yourself at times (especially if others don't know you are ill).


I consider myself one of the lucky people with an invisible illnesses. One of my illnesses is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. During and educational seminar that I was helping to run, I had a flashback. Suddenly, about 50 people that I worked with became very aware that I had PTSD. My invisible illness was "outed" so to speak; my invisible illness was visible.

Being "outed" is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. Hiding an illnesses if a horrible way to live. It is living the life of a lie, it is not living in the reality of the truth. I think everyone with invisible chronic illnesses deserves the best in life they can get, and the best includes the truth. Now, I get to celebrate openly, the fact that I survived what was once an unspeakable time in my life. I get to celebrate that I am alive, living with chronic illness, but alive. 


Now I am very upfront about my invisible chronic illnesses when appropriate. If people honestly want to learn about the illnesses I have, I am more than happy to teach them ( I am a disable RN). I know that the best way to get rid of stigmas is to speak out about them; it is important to educate those around us. As for me, I like to share the hope and freedom I have gained by speaking out.

Life is Hard

Let's face it whether it is a chronic illness, physical or mental, visible or invisible or you are permanently disabled, life is hard. Who isn't feeling the pinch of the tough economic times that are, literally, all around the world? Many families (it almost seems, most families) are dysfunctional. This song has brought me comfort when I have felt hopeless and helpless. It is call "Life is Hard". It is sung by Pam Thum. I found this lovely recording on YouTube.com, It helps me through when life gets too hard.