A few weeks ago I found the Instagram @thecriticallyhonest and instantly loved it. So many of us have invisible chronic diseases that we start to hate explaining. People feel like they need to say something nice to make us feel better, but once in a while, someone will say “at least you don’t have __________” or “it could be worse.”
I’ve never known what to say to that. “I’m sorry I’m not as afflicted as you’d like”? Maybe “would you like me to be worse or add another symptom?”
My illness isn’t any less valid than someone else’s. It’s a way of saying “don’t feel sorry for yourself” even when we’re just answering “how are you” with more than “fine.”
kerryfaler.blog 