Telling a stranger or an acquaintance about my health issues can be difficult, only because it is hard to make them understand. We all know that, right?
I find it infinitely harder to talk to loved ones about it, especially when there’s something negative happening. How do you tell your loved ones that things are bad? The last thing I want to do is upset people. Even when they are being the most wonderful, supportive friends and family I could ever want, I can see they’re hurting, and that is more painful than anything I deal with on a daily basis. That’s why I don’t tell them most of what I deal with. And that’s why I started this blog: it’s much easier to complain to anonymous readers than to upset my loved ones. Plus, if you’re reading this then you probably have similar conditions, so you understand. You know that as bad as things are, they’re probably not as bad as what’s in the minds of family and friends. But how can I convince them of that?
More than anything, I want to reassure my family and friends right now that I am ok. Yes, I need to take a few months off of work, but really, I’m ok. I mean, sure, I’m not really ok, because if I was, I wouldn’t need the time off. Yeah, I know that. But aside from that, I’M OK! REALLY! I guess it would be more convincing if it was as true as I want it to be.
I wonder how other people handle this? Is there any possible way to tell your loved ones that you’re worse without upsetting them? I guess not. I’d be upset of the situation were reversed. But it still feels lousy. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional ordeal, and as I write this post, this is the first time I’ve cried. Suddenly, I can’t stop the tears. I can handle my own problems, but causing pain to others is unbearable. This is the pain that no one warns you about.
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Chronic Rants 
A great-big ZenHug, while you cry!
The last thing I want when I feel like crying, is for somebody to *soothe* me – if I’m willing to cry in your presence, it’s because I *need* to, and soothing kicks up that “I’m causing YOU pain” issue! Not good!!!
Yes Karen, well said!