Coping with Chronic Illness

Laughter is the best medicine.

Check out, follow, and contribute to Chronic Illness Cat on Tumblr. Here are some of my favorites:

“Innocently read story about American Health Insurance; Spend rest of day in fetal position under desk, obsessively adding up the cost of your meds.”

“'Oh, I wish I could stay home all the time! That would be so amazing!' Yeah, it’s fantastic. I love not leaving the house for days at a time. Because I can’t.”

xkcd: Positive Attitude -- #spoonie

Source

Panel 1
Sick Person: I'm sick and I'm scared.
Well Person: Well, remember--having a good attitude is the most important thing. Think positively and you'll get better.

Panel 2
Sick Person: So if I'm sad or afraid or feel ike crap sometimes, then...
Well Person: ...Then if you don't recover, it will be your fault.

Panel 3
Sick Person: Well, that makes me feel even worse.
Well Person: See? You're doing this to yourself.
Sick Person: No!
Well Person: Stop it!
Sick Person: Argh!

Panel 4
Sick Person: Okay, you know what? Screw this. My attitude isn't my problem. My disease is my problem, and I'm treating it. I'm going to be glum and depressed and pessimistic some days, and I'm going to get better anyway.

Panel 5
Sick Person: Wait, that ended up sounding optimistic.
Well Person: I guess you suck at pessimism.
Sick Person: Maybe I'll be better at it tomorrow.

Home, home yet again...

I know you don’t understand,
It’s not something I planned,
Or just how plain crappy I feel,
I may not look sick,
No this isn’t a trick,
I assure you my illness is real.

[Read the rest of The Spoonie Anthem at But You Don't Look Sick]

How do you rate your pain?

Or how about this fantastically funny pain chart from from Hyperbole and a Half: