It’s so hard to accept being sick when those around you cannot accept it. I’ve spent the last ten years straddling the fence so to speak when it comes to my illness. I would go through bouts where I told anyone who would listen how I was feeling because I didn’t understand what was happening. As doctor after doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with me I just started lying and telling everyone that I was better. Inside I was dying though. I went back and forth like this until I finally was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on July 15, 2009. I finally felt justified. I stopped lying about how I felt, but now a new battle had begun.
I finally had a diagnosis, but not one that everyone believed in. I never dreamed of how many skeptics I would face. Some people think I just want attention and others think I’m overreacting. I’m just trying to be understood. Everyone talks about how hard it is to understand Fibromyalgia and those without Fibromyalgia tend to just sweep it under the rug because they don’t want to take the time to try to understand. How do you think we feel? We don’t understand it either, but we have to live with the effects of it every day. We can’t just act like everything is okay because it’s not. We research our condition over and over because we need to try to understand what is happening to us because that’s our only line of defense.
Maybe someday everyone will realize how serious Fibromyalgia really is. It’s not a joke. It’s not a cry for attention and most of all it’s not all in our heads. We’re sick. You don’t have to understand everything about Fibromyalgia in order to show support, because no one really understands everything about it. All we ask is that you try. Most of those with Fibromyalgia who commit suicide do it because they didn’t have the support of their family and friends. Having someone you love and trust tell you that you’re crazy when you know you’re really sick can be devastating.
Please have a little faith in us and support Fibromyalgia Awareness. It really matters to us and if you really care about us, then it should matter to you too.
