How to get family to understand chronic illness?

I still deal w this it's like they forget because we put on a brave face for them and seem ok and don't complain. It's really hard to find your own physical and mental limits when you are being pushed all the time to do more do more. Look up the spoon theory it changed my life. Explain it to them. I have to put my foot down regularly and it's hard because I want to do the stuff they want me to but I just can't. If they love you they will understand.

So much love and support sent to you. I'm so sorry you are going through this. Having boundaries and saying no is important, but making sure you have a peaceful living situation is just as important for your situation as well. 🥴 I'm sorry you are dealing with this.

I dealt with this with my family too. One thing that helped them was just me being honest about what I’m going through. Talking about it, sending them resources that they can read to better understand my illnesses, setting boundaries to protect my health. It takes a while, but hopefully they’ll have at least some understanding of what you’re going through. It might help to tell your family how you feel about their response to your chronic illnesses. I wonder if finding resources about invisible illnesses and teaching them about the spoon theory might also help? I’m sorry you feel so unheard and invalidated! It can be so disheartening when your family doesn’t believe you and labels you as lazy or dramatic. I hope things get better soon 🤍

Hopefully your family is more understanding than mine. I've had this since I was 9 but wasn't diagnosed until 2014. (This isn't my only medical issue) My family deemed me lazy and useless and booted me out when I was 16. I've was officially disowned last year because I have problems keeping a job. Again, this isn't my only medical issue. Until someone TRULY understands it, they have no idea the daily struggle. Hang in there. There's hope of understanding.

It was really hard to get my family to understand. Until my mom started having health problems too. Anything my mom says everybody just agrees with in my house, so when my mom started to understand so did everyone else. Unfortunately my dad still doesn't completely understand. He hopes all my tests come back negative and other frustrating stuff. Sometimes people don't understand what they don't know.