"You look so good! You can't be as bad as you say.
You look perfectly healthy." "You think you have
fatigue? Try working full-time plus having four
children! Then you'll know what chronic fatigue is."
"I think you're spending too much time thinking
about how you feel. You need to just get out more."
"If you really wanted to get well, you'd at least try
that juice drink I gave you last week. It won't
hurt to try it."

Nearly 1 in 2 Americans has a chronic illness or physical condition that impacts their
daily life. This can include everything from arthritis to cancer, migraines to diabetes, and
back pain to fibromyalgia. One of the biggest emotional hurdles for people who suffer
from illness is the invisibility of it. About 96% of illness is invisible; meaning the person
who suffers from the chronic condition may appear to be a healthy individual, but who
actually suffers each day from physical pain. One may never guess the intensity of the
pain suffered within the confines of one's home, as she of he shows no outward signs of
physical pain or disability, nor does he or she use an assistive device like a walker or
wheelchair

[1] Free people from the expectations you typically have had of them. This step will
likely be a life-long process, but without taking it, you will consistently find that people
will always disappoint you. No one is perfect-even you! And it's important to remember
that those with illness do not understand the difficulties that our friends are going
through, such as a divorce, the death of a loved one, an ill child, a loss job, etc. Your
illness is momentous in your life. And even though people do care, they still will have
significant things going on in their own lives. Don't hold that against them.

[2] Find supportive, caring friends. If there is someone in your circle of friendships who
is constantly belittling you or distrustful about your illness, this should be a relationship
to end. If it's a relative, distance yourself as much as you can. Illness gives us an
opportunity to help us prioritize our friendships. With limited energies we should
surround ourselves with those who at least can give us the benefit of the doubt and
acknowledge our illness exists.