Pull up your big girl panties!

Woman walking alone on a beach
Photo by Tom Swinnen from Pexels

Let me count… Roughly speaking, I was diagnosed with MS about 5000 days ago. That’s one fair bit of experience under my hood, right?

But…

When talking to people, new or otherwise, it can be difficult telling them you’re living with an incurable neurodegenerative illness. Sometimes it feels like being in an uninterrupted car crash, minus the brakes, seatbelt or the steering wheel, especially when they add their own preconceived ideas about MS based on hearsay or pop-culture folly.

Even if you’ve been living with MS for a decade or for just one day, you’re occasionally hitting walls of guessing, worries, disbelief and/or anger at each turn.

You’re in denial.

(they’re probably as well at first)

You’re angry.

(there’s a fair chance they are trying to remain cool under pressure when you find it difficult accepting your illness)

You’re wondering what now.

(if you’re questioning everything, imagine what others are thinking who don’t have MS)

But, you are the one with the illness that nobody understands, so your perception of reality is a little more tangible.

A little more fearful and overwhelming also.

You learn to live with the what nows and what ifs.

Eventually, though, you find your feet.

(and at some stage, those around you will find theirs also)

You find out who will be there and those who will find a reason to blame you for being sick.

Never mind them.

They’re just loose fodder in the wind.

(I call them the “good riddance crowd”)

Never forget that even when you’re looking at the same thing, your perceptions of reality will differ from theirs.

What people see is inherently flawed by nature.

So, never mind pointless chats or mindless bickering.

You know you are still you.

So, pull up your big girl panties or your best PJs and step into the weekend with an open mind. Get out the chocolate, coffee, cake, ice cream and everything else to make your weekend a small party.

Never mind if you only last 15 minutes, it is 16 minutes of gained experience.

Signature WMX

blog-awards-2018_winners-gold-mpu-e1571651056851-12018 Winner Best Blog Post with ‘3443 Needles’, Blog Awards Ireland, Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland

◾ MyTherapy: Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best in 2019
◾ Ireland Blog Awards: Finalist 2014, 2015, 2017
◾ MyTherapy: Best MS Blog for Simplicity 2018
◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blog of 2018
◾ Feedspot: Top 50 MS Blog 2017, 2018, 2019

 

© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and irelandms.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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