I would not wish a chronic illness on my worst enemy. Having an incurable and invisible illness completely changes everything. Your life becomes a daily fight to get out of bed in the morning. Those of us who have experienced the truths of living through such trauma have all learned a lot from our illnesses.
1. Being sick means you become friends with your nurses
Multiple trips to the Emergency Room will bring you to being on a first name basis with your nurse. That may sound kind of depressing, but it also helps to see a familiar face when you're in pain. I don't know how I would've survived without my nurses, doctors and lab technicians. They saved my life.
2. You find out who your TRUE friends are
When I first got sick, I had a lot of support, but then when your diagnosis becomes "old news". If people don't understand your diagnosis they begin to leave you behind. The people who stay with you through the horrible times in your life are your true friends. Getting sick was a real eye opener to the real friends that I could count on. I would rather have one true friend than one million fake ones.
3. Your sibling becomes your best friend
Growing up, you loathed one another. You fought so badly that your mom would pull over to the side of the road until you'd apologize to each other. You could never imagine a world in which you two would get along, but when one of you gets sick, that is when everything changes. When I got sick, my brother and I became closer than ever. My brother has helped me get through so much in my life and has had to seen his sister go through a lot that he shouldn't have. Growing close to my brother was definitely one of the positives of getting diagnosed with a chronic illness.
4. You start to take the same amount of pills that a grandparent takes
I cannot even count how many different medications that I have been prescribed over the years. From anti-depressants to anti-seizure medications, it seems like I have tried them all. Your daily pills become a part of your routine and when you used to not even be able to swallow one pill, you are now able to swallow several at a time. Prescriptions become a usual part of having a chronic illness, but what no one tells you is that most of the time these pills don't do what they are supposed to do.
5. Having support who have the same diagnosis is one of the best treatments
Meeting others who share the same daily struggles helps you learn how to cope with your illness. It helps to exchange what has worked for you and what has worked for them with one another. Knowing that you are not the only one who has a certain illness is a huge relief. You finally feel a sense of belonging within a community.
6. You miss out on a lot of important moments
Homecoming, formals, proms, football games, and even school days become something that just isn't in the cards for you to attend when you get sick. The closest you get to being in on the action is staying tuned in to social media, which only reminds you of the fact that you are not present.
7. Being sick is hard for your loved ones too
Seeing someone you love in pain is one of the most terrible experiences of life. I cannot even begin to understand the amount of anxiety that my family has had to deal with since my health became a problem. I am so grateful for my family and friends. I couldn't have gotten through any of it without them.
