Chronic Illness: Living Life As a Sick Person Who Doesn't Look Sick: How I Make It Work Women's Health Diseases/Disorders

I have two invisible illnesses that affect my day-to-day life. Social anxiety and fibromyalgia. If I am not struggling mentally, it is likely I am struggling physically and vice versa. There are very few days I am not suffering from symptoms of one or both of my issues. It makes life hard, but also makes me realize my blessings when it is a good day.

Many people doubt if I am really sick, and others assume it must not be that bad because I do so much. I used to be very bothered that people just don't get it, but then I realized it doesn't matter if they get it or not. It is my issue to deal with and really makes no difference to my life and how I live it whether or not people understand my struggles.

How I do so much and make it through is out of necessity and has a lot to do with mindset. I try to only think of the task at hand and not the big long list of tasks ahead of me. I know if I thought that way I would be frozen with doubt over being able to complete all my tasks, and that I probably would not do any of it.

I also stopped telling people my struggles because sadly, if you don't look sick people doubt you, which is not helpful. Positive thinking and perseverance gets me through each day.