This post was inspired by the recent posts on instagram ' what you see vs what you don't see'.
'But you look so normal' - I’ve never known how to reply to that. Usually just give a awkward smile 🤷🏽♀️
To the average human, yes, I look very “normal”. Nothing could ever be wrong, “normal”. Far from it. But, then again, what is normal?
My normal includes:
being in pain all day, every day
being forever nauseous
migraines so bad I can’t move
lightheaded nearly all the time
cognitive issues
Rice Krispie joints ; the slightest move and something’s sprained
Depression and anxiety - therapy
Hair washed by anyone else but myself
Tremors
Fatigue
Allergic to the world
Braces for knees and hands and compression gloves are life
There’s a whole lot more to this. I could go on forever. It is very hard to fully come to terms with what has happened and how drastically your life has changed and continues to change. It is hard and draining and there are times where I just sit and cry because this is not how I imagined my life to be; but I will always fight and be stubborn and continue to build my new life.
I am forever grateful for the people in my life. I am so lucky to have people around me who support me no matter what. I’m also grateful for everything I’ve learnt since becoming sick, and I do love the person I have become.
So, even though some people may look "normal", what you don't see is how much they may struggle on a daily basis. Their normal might not be the same as your normal, but every normal is acceptable; no matter who you are or what you're going through -your pain is real and valid, and no one can tell you otherwise.