By Paige Wyant in The Mighty. Music is often a source of comfort and emotional healing. Many people with chronic illness in particular find that certain songs or genres can be powerful in helping distract them from symptoms and cope with all the stresses and frustrations of life with a health condition. For Mighty […]
The Mighty
When Illness Makes You Give Up The Commitments And Activities You Love
By Lexie in The Mighty. I just made one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Many of you can relate to my story. I’ve seen countless doctors, integrative general practitioners, naturopaths, chiropractors, and specialists over the last few years. When they couldn’t explain my symptoms, they diagnosed me with chronic […]
When People Judge Me For Not Working Because Of My Chronic Pain
Why I Think ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ Is The Worst Name Ever
The ‘Activity Hangover’ I Experience Because of Chronic Illness
21 People Describe What Sensory Overload Feels Like
By Melissa McGlensey in The Mighty. Sensory overload happens when too much sensory stimulus is occurring at once — it can be triggered by a crowded room, a TV turned up too loud, strong aromas, fluorescent lighting — or a hundred other things. It’s often associated with certain diagnoses like autism, sensory processing disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic […]
Struggling To Accept The Days When Illness Keeps Me From Doing Anything
We Cannot Continue To Let Doctors ‘Gaslight’ Chronic Illness Patients
By Siobhan Simper in The Mighty. Author’s warning: This post contains experiences of gaslighting and abuse. Recently, I saw an all-too-common meme on social media: the inspirational disabled person. The image was of a Paralympic horse rider, with the caption, “no excuses.” Much has been written about the problematic nature of disability “inspiration porn.” What shocked me was when I […]
What My Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Actually Feels Like
By Aanchal Chopra in The Mighty. I have moderate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and this is my own experience. Others may have different symptoms or manifestations because every individual is different. But this is a glimpse into what my life with CFS actually feels like. Living with CFS — or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) — is like swimming […]
When You Can’t Stop Mourning The Person You Were Before Chronic Illness
By Jamie Janinski in The Mighty. Four years ago, I went to my doctor complaining of excessive tiredness and having so much pain in my hands that I couldn’t squeeze my shampoo bottle while showering. Four years ago, I received a call telling me I needed to see a rheumatologist right away because my […]
12 Things That Happen When You Have A Chronic Illness
By Ally Teixeira in The Mighty. Having a chronic illness isn’t easy. All of us chronically ill warriors may feel alone, but we all have a lot in common! Here are 12 things that happen when you’re chronically ill. You know you have a chronic illness when… 1. Doing your hair feels like some serious […]
When Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Feels Like An Energy-Sucking Vampire
By Caitlin Phillips-Peddlesden in The Mighty. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) fatigue. The invisible illness vampire. The blood- (or energy-) sucking beast ever at your shoulder, teeth in your neck. CFS fatigue is invisible. Many people with CFS have no visibly discernible symptoms. Only the bags under our eyes point to the constant torture people […]
To People With Invisible Illnesses, From A Paramedic Who Didn’t Believe You
By Ashley in The Mighty. I’ve been a paramedic on and off for 10 years now. I’ve seen the good and the bad — probably more bad than good, but I’ve opened my eyes to something different. I’ve seen people in Facebook groups post about how health care professionals treat people with invisible illnesses poorly because they […]
If Your Chronic Illness Is Making You Want to Give Up
5 Reasons We Should Never Assume Someone Isn’t In Pain
Why People With Chronic Illness Can’t Simply ‘Push Through’
By Alicia Thompson in The Mighty. It never ceases to frustrate me to realize how pervasive the “Just Do It” culture is. Whenever I discuss my physical limitations with others, I’m often met with the suggestion that I simply need to “push through.” Which leaves me wondering, what does this phrase really mean […]
To Those Who Say Chronically Ill People Are ‘So Lucky’ Not To Work Full-Time
By Alexandra Ellen in The Mighty. Have you ever had the “joy” of experiencing a conversation similar to this on a Sunday afternoon? “What time do you start work tomorrow?” “Ummm, I don’t work on Mondays.” “Ahhh, you’re so lucky!” I lost count of the number of times I’ve had similar conversations. I […]
How To Move Forward When You’re Grieving Your Life Before Chronic Illness
21 People Describe What Sensory Overload Feels Like
By Melissa McGlensey in The Mighty. Sensory overload happens when too much sensory stimulus is occurring at once — it can be triggered by a crowded room, a TV turned up too loud, strong aromas, fluorescent lighting — or a hundred other things. It’s often associated with certain diagnoses like autism, sensory processing disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress […]
The ‘Energy Bubble’ Analogy That Can Help Explain Pacing With A Chronic Illness
By Christina Baltais in The Mighty. Pacing is about energy conservation, both physical and emotional. When you’re living with a chronic illness, it’s an essential skill for preventing flare-ups or “crashes.” This “energy bubble analogy” can be useful to help you visualize and understand the limits of your energy, and help you explain them […]
We Need To Stop Talking About Chronic Illness In This Particular Way
By Annie M. In The Mighty. Have you ever noticed how people talk about illness, even mild illnesses like colds? We often say we are fighting them. We battle colds and fight the flu. We call our friends with scary medical conditions “warriors,” and we encourage them in their “battle” against their illness. It’s true […]
14 Things People May Not Realize We Do Because Of Sudden Flare-Ups
By Cassidy Colbert in The Mighty. Living life with a chronic illness is basically living life constantly walking on eggshells. One day you may be bouncing off the walls because you are so full of energy and the next you are lying on the cool bathroom floor — your only source of relief from the agonizing […]
Dealing With Anger Now That I Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
By Jamison Hill in The Mighty. I love to break things. Yeah, I know, who doesn’t? But I get such a satisfying feeling when I break something. Maybe not a bone, or a really expensive gadget, but breaking something cheap and discardable is satisfying to me. Very satisfying! In 2011, after I was sick for […]