Journeys, battles, spoons, and other metaphors

"Think of yourself as a healthy person who just happens to be sick," a doctor told me.

"I've seen many patients like you. You're ambitious and a high achiever. Find some ways to deal with stress, and you'll get better," another said.

Yet another specialist told me, "Stop telling yourself the wrong stories. Keep fighting, and you'll be back to your normal life soon."

So many medical professionals suggested how I should think in those early years of chronic illness. Yet, I struggled to formulate my own words and thoughts. At times, I literally could not speak. It took immense effort to sit up, let alone haul myself to a doctor's office on the other side of campus. I was overwhelmed by full body pain, pressing fatigue, and roiling brain fog (a state of cognitive dysfunction).

A healthy person with a side of sickness? It felt like the infection that had triggered this onslaught had already devoured my body and mind, leaving me a husk of myself.

Battle talk. Normalcy. Monsters and destruction. Language is powerful. Metaphors and stories help us understand our world and circumstances, in the hopes of recognizing ourselves and getting recognition from others. The right words can encourage empathy, assuming that a glimpse of another's experience will lead to compassion.

Great, right? The more metaphors, the merrier? Well... it's complicated.

[#invisiblefight] Invisible Illness Awareness Week 2015

September 28 through October 4 is Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Started in 2002 by Rest Ministries' founder Lisa Copen, it's an annual week devoted to raising awareness and supportive encouragement for the many around the world who are dealing with invisible chronic illnesses.

Last year was the first time I had heard about it, and since then I've been thinking about this year's initiative. What I look the most forward to aren't the facts, although those are helpful for educating myself and others about chronic illness. But it's really the personal stories that hit me, putting human faces and names to the seemingly-anonymous figures floating around in medical journals and in the media. And knowing a bit more about the struggles of those around me makes my own feel lighter.

This year's theme is My Invisible Fight. So, what is your fight? 

Or is your friend, family member, neighbor, colleague, labmate, or classmate in the midst of a fight that you might not know about? Maybe this is the time to find out -- or at least be willing to serve as an open ear and heart. You never know who might need it.

Check out the website, the Facebook page, and the blogs dedicated to the cause. I hope to be blogging next week to share a bit about my own fights. See you then!