Everyone has a story to share – this is what connects us to one another, no matter our family background or where we come from. No matter what you’ve been through in your life, telling your story is the first step to creating meaningful relationships and building a strong support system.
People with invisible illnesses are often misunderstood, blamed, mistreated and judged. When we don’t acknowledge the truth of such illnesses, we are telling these people that they don’t matter or that they have no value. How will people heal if others don’t want to acknowledge that they have an illness in the first place? Society needs to understand invisible illnesses (many of which are neurological-affecting the brain and nervous system) are like any other condition that affects a different part of the body. Until this happens, people with invisible illness will continue to be stigmatized.
By sharing our personal experience with illness, we hope to build bridges with others around us, so that they will know and understand us better. Hiding our illness can cause embarrassment and leave us feeling ashamed about it. There is no fault in being faced with an illness. It is our truth; and how can we form real relationships with others if they don’t know what we go through?
I also believe that talking about your illness can help with the healing process. There is so much freedom in telling the truth. You no longer have to hide or pretend. And by opening up, you also reach out to others who may be going through a similar experience, and that helps you realize that you’re not alone. The more you share, the more you inspire others to do the same. And when you heal together, you heal faster. Chronic illness can make a sufferer feel alienated, but when we share our experiences with the illness, we open up new connections with others just like ourselves, and we don’t feel so alone anymore. Knowing that we are not alone is such a comforting feeling and it can definitely help the one struggling get through a difficult period. When you share, you are also helping yourself release bottled-up emotions like anger, frustration and fear. I’ve personally found that, the more I share and talk about my condition, the less of an effect it has on me.
Sharing your story is also a great way to spread awareness. Awareness, I believe, is what leads to acceptance. When there is no acceptance, there is very little support and people tend to get left behind. Opening up about your illness can help change this. The more awareness about your condition, the less isolated you will feel. And who knows, you might even inspire others to get the help they need. With acknowledgement comes acceptance.