Since this feeling is common, we wanted to cover the topic in hopes it will help members here. I have deeply struggled with this myself. Reading these articles helped me and may help your loved ones understand by sharing them. We hope these help you feel more understood.
"Behaviors such as pretending you’re OK when you’re not, doing more than you should and shutting people out are common but can be misinterpreted by those you surround yourself with. We wanted to know more about the things people with chronic illness do that others don’t realize they’re doing because they feel like a burden."
"One of my fears is of becoming a burden to my loved ones. I’m confident that I’m not alone in feeling this way. I think nearly everyone with a chronic illness feels the exact same way — at least some of the time. I’m sure others who have mentioned this to loved ones have gotten a similar response to the one I usually get which is, “You are not a burden! I will do anything for you — you just have to ask.”
"Living with a chronic illness comes with a lot of ups and downs. Some days you may have the energy to do it all, other days you may need to rely on loved ones to lend you a hand. Asking for help from others is hard. You may find yourself saying things like “could I trouble you for…”, do you mind…”, “I hate to bother you, but…”. Needing help with simple tasks, like making breakfast or taking a shower, can be demoralizing and humiliating. When you have a condition that limits your ability to do daily activities, you will need help. And that does not make you a burden."
"You’re afraid that talking about your health is too much of a burden for others to handle.
And maybe you’ve tried to explain what it feels like to live in so much pain. The fatigue, the discomfort. Being forced to cancel plans. But it feels like no matter how much you try, no words can really convey the reality of your illness and what it feels like to be sick. You cancel plans because the mere thought of being around people and pretending that you’re fine seems exhausting."
Disclaimer: Rise Above Lyme makes no claims about any possible benefit of using any product mentioned within this site. Always consult with your doctor before adding anything. The information shared is based on personal experience, years of accumulated researched resources from Lyme Literate doctors and polls conducted within Lyme groups from actual patient experience using these solution ideas.
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