3 Ways to Make Life With Chronic Illness a Little Easier*

2020 has been a whole mess for a lot of people, but for those with chronic illness, it’s been even worse. On August the 1st, England finally ended it’s shielding for the vulnerable, but that doesn’t just mean they can pop to the shops and carry on. Life was hard for them before COVID, and will continue to be hard long after we get it under control. I struggle with PCOS, and as far as chronic illness goes, it’s not that bad and it makes me feel luckily that I don’t really need to alter my day to day life much. For others that’s really not the case.

Being lockdown has given me the chance to learn. Social media is a truly wonderful tool in that way as you can meet and socialise with people from all walks of life without leaving your own home (and let’s face it, in 2020, that’s just normal life now!) And although I might never be in the position to truly understand what it is to be chronically ill or disabled, I feel I’m now in a position to say, “that’s rubbish, how can I help?” If I’ve learned anything from this history making event it’s, I want to be a better more empathetic person.

So here is what I’ve learned from listening to chronically ill people, these some of the things that make their life easier.

Get an Understanding Doctor

We all love the NHS, we do and if we were all brutally honest, we couldn’t do without it. But some of the stories that have been shared, especially since the Government’s new “fat shaming” agenda popped up (come on, lets call it what it is) are truly horrify. Getting an understanding doctor, who believes you, especially when you have symptoms no one else can see is key. I know this from experience as someone suffering with their mental health. It took my solicitor recommending me a doctor to get any sort of help. But to be living in physical pain and having a doctor who’s only recommendation is “lose weight” when you know deep down that has nothing to do with it, is a living hell.

But there are good ones out there, ones who want to help, to find out what is going on. They really are like gold dust but don’t feel ashamed to keep pushing. You deserve to be heard and you deserve to get help.

Living Aids

I think it is appalling how much shame chronically ill and disabled people deal with when it comes to using living aids, especially outside their home, and more so if they’re young. Appalling that they should not feel comfortable using something designed to make their life easier because of the stigma, especially around hidden disabilities and illnesses. But if there is something out there that helps you live a fuller life, do it. If you feel shame it’s on everyone else. As a society we need to work towards making everyone feel comfortable enough to live their full and best life. And I’m so thankful to see the market expanding each year with more affordable, practical and even stylish living aids. If you need help on how to decide on the right walking stick, the information is out there to help you find the right fit. I hope that society will continue to evolve taking in the ability of all.

Help from Friends and Family

I think the most heartbreaking thing I have learned from speaking to people with deliberating chronic illnesses and disabilities, is how much they don’t want to be a burden to their friends and family. It actually broke my heart that accepting help from people who love and care for them was a difficult thing for them to do. I have reassured the people in my life that I am here for whatever extra help and support I can offer and if you arre reading this as someone who is able bodied, I urge you to do this too. Everyone is entitled to live their best life possible, and after the year we’ve been through, we should all be pulling together to make that happen.