What Helps Me Accept the ‘Chronic’ Nature of My Chronic Illness

Written By: Rachel F. Cox

There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions

— From “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot

The word chronic comes from the Latin word “chronos” for time. Chronic illness simply means long-term illness. It’s a marathon on every level. What do I think is the hardest aspect of chronic illness? Well, it’s not the lack of understanding from society at large. It’s frustrating, but it’s something we can actively work to change. And it is not the endless symptoms, medications, treatments and consultations with medical professionals. That’s sheer endurance, but not the worst aspect of this life. It’s not even the heartbreaking armchair view of watching the fallout of your chronic illness on your family and friends. It’s something more insidious.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE: http://themighty.com/2015/07/what-helps-me-accept-the-chronic-nature-of-my-chronic-illness/