2005-02-14

understanding and acceptance

As a sufferer myself I think what has been most important in my dealing with this condition is the acceptance by my close friends and family that what I'm going through is real and serious. I had to battle to get there, and struggled with trying to disprove many myths about PVFS/CFS that people still believe even now.

But when my closest family and friends finally 'came round', dealing with the condition itself became a lot easier for me.

It didn't cure me - CFS/ME isn't psychological, as you know (it's a physical bio-chemical condition). But it did help me get through my day. It still does.

It is one less (big) thing I didn't have to contend with.

The condition itself already places such huge burdens on a sufferer's shoulders that the last thing they need is scepticism in addition. Lack of acceptance and understanding can cause so much stress for a sufferer and it invariably can make them worse.

So thanks for understanding - you know who you are ;)

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