Chronic Illness: Why We Don’t Talk About It and What Needs to Change

https://youtu.be/dxiXjt0yD3k

When you think about it, we talk about everything else. We talk about our families, our jobs, our vacations. But when it comes to chronic illness, we clam up. Why is that? Over 157 million people in the US have 1 or more chronic illnesses and yet we don’t talk about them. Maybe it’s because we are afraid of being judged? Maybe we think people won’t want to be around us if they know we have a chronic illness? Whatever the reason, this needs to change. We need to be able to talk freely and safely about our chronic illness journey.

We all know someone who has a chronic illness, whether it’s a family member, friend, or co-worker. But even though it’s so common, we don’t talk about it. Why is that? Maybe it’s because we think people with chronic illnesses are somehow different from us and that they must be treated differently. Or maybe we’re just afraid of saying the wrong thing and making them feel uncomfortable.

Chronic Illness Definition

A chronic illness is a long-term conditions, lasting a year or longer, that can’t be cured but can be managed with treatment. Chronic illnesses can include diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as conditions like arthritis and asthma. One in two Americans has a chronic illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re one of the millions of Americans living with a chronic illness, you know that it’s not always easy to manage your condition. But with the right treatment and support, you can live a full and productive life.

List of Common Chronic Illnesses

Chronic Illnesses can be common like multiple sclerosis or COPD, or can be a rare disease. MedlinePlus provides the following as a list of common chronic illnesses:

Alzheimer disease and dementia

Arthritis

Asthma

Cancer

COPD

Crohn disease

Cystic fibrosis

Diabetes

Epilepsy

Heart disease

HIV/AIDS

Mood disorders (bipolar, cyclothymic, and depression)

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson disease

The Importance of Communication

If we can talk about our chronic illnesses, then we can start to break down the barriers that keep us from living our best lives. We deserve to live life to the fullest! And we are here to support you on your journey. So come talk to us, we’re listening!

Communication about chronic illness is the key. We need to talk about it so that we can understand it better. And by talking about it, we can help break the stigma that surrounds chronic illness. So let’s start the conversation today. At Situation Positive, we are changing the conversation about chronic illness. We have created an inclusive community to share chronic illness stories. We believe that by sharing our stories, we can help others feel less alone on their chronic illness journey. Join us today and be a part of the change!

At Situation Positive, we are changing the conversation about chronic illness. We have created an inclusive community to share chronic illness stories. So come on over and join the conversation! Let’s talk about chronic illness!

Please visit: situationpositive.org for more information or to join our community! Thank you for reading 🙂 #chronicillnessawareness #endthestigma #situationpositive

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