Balancing Health and Social Life: How Do You Do It?

Not fully no, I struggle with staying with people, there's always a part of me that's just kinda detached and when I'm super stressed / overwhelmed it let's me leave for months & not contact everyone.

I totally understand this. I’d just like two really good friends so we could hang out, go see a film, grab a bite to eat etc. and just be able to put the world to right over a drink.

No lol

Absolutely not. When my health was becoming too much in high school, I wasn't able to attend class much which was the only time I saw or got to chat with my classmates (I didn't talk to any outside of school or use social media like that). It didn't take long for others to start seeing me as a burden and not bothering to talk to me. They'd just look at me all pitiful while passing in the hallway. When a person has issues that can't easily be resolved by "working hard on yourself," "taking medication," "praying" and aren't obvious just from looking at them... many people tend to check out and not see the point in interacting. Which I get to a degree tbh, but it still hurts to experience

Somewhat. I'm autistic and have ADHD, so if I talk to others who are similar, it's easier to relate. The general public, however, has never truly gotten me. As an aside, I see "pseudotumor cerebri" listed, and just wanted to say, I know what that is! My mom also has that! I almost never see that anywhere.

Some friends have adapted to my health decline, and I am amazingly grateful for their involvement in my life, and all the accessible social activities we do together. I have lost other friends who haven't been able to adapt, which has been sad, but also my capacity for people is smaller, I can't keep up with as many friends as I used to have anyway. I might have to move away in a few months, and I'm really scared about not being able to go out and meet people as someone with chronic physical and mental health problems though. I think that would be really hard for me.

The only real close friendships I have where we have a deep understanding of each other are with other people who are disabled/chronically sick!

Not always I try to see my friends once a week but sometimes I don’t feel good . I’ve been able to do something ever couple weeks though.

By setting healthy boundaries and having people that do not just focus on my health and we can talk about anything and we allow each other space when we need it making sure that we check in on each other and making sure that the relationship is 2 ways

No, I've lost almost all of my friends and family due to my mental health

I haven't managed them without health getting in the way I was just able to find friends who were willing to adapt things for me

No, I am a basket case with chronic pain and something always gets in the way. I am basically always asking for forgiveness or catching up in some way.

I can honestly say I have, I have been married for over 19 years now. My husband got a good look at my anxiety issues before we were married. I have a issue that when under a lot of stress my body just does a reboot, so to say. At first the docs thought it was a seizure but it isn't. Only thing they think it is, is my anxiety. He still hung in there and we ended up getting married. We have been together for 21 years really but married 19. My true friends have hung around even they know about the reboots. Only thing I can say is if they can not accept you for you, then they are not worth trying to spend time with. Someone who can accept you with everything is a keeper!

Ive managed one friend so far who has enough patience and understanding to allow me space and support when i need it, and doesnt have a huge issue when i cant go out when we plan to (whether that be due to work, illness or pain)

This summer we got together for my mom's memorial, and my siblings wanted to get a big house together, but we couldn't find one with a single floor that could accommodate us all, and my sister and I both struggle with stairs (rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue make stairs hard), so we just each got our own place.

Depends on the people. My siblings have all been understanding, because my mom and one of my older sisters have a lot of health issues, so I wasn't the first. My friends.... The ones that I'm closest to understand and have always been accommodating. But! My friends and family they even understand but don't have health issues themselves, sometimes need to be shown or reminded that I need accommodations from them. I'm the youngest of 8 siblings, and only two of us have health issues. The other 6 don't always think about our health things, so we make sure to bring it up.

Not so much without it getting in the way, but I'm outspoken about my health things and what I need from friends and family when we hang out.