This post was written by a contributor.
When you have a chronic illness, life can be challenging to say the least. But one thing that you don’t often hear is that part of the challenge is learning to deal with how others see you – and treat you. It would be nice to think that everyone takes everyone else at face value, but the reality is a little different. And while we aren’t talking about discrimination per se, it can sometimes feel a little similar. Here are a few examples of how people and organizations treat others with chronic illnesses.
In general
When you have a chronic illness, most of the people you love and respect will still feel the same way about you as they always have. But for those people that are more acquaintances than friends, things can often change. They stop asking you what you have been doing and instead ask how you are feeling. Some will always ask if you are feeling better now like you’ve just been a little under the weather with a cold. The truth is that unless you really know someone with a chronic illness, you have no idea what it really means – it’s not something you get taught in school!
At work
Work can be tricky for people with chronic illnesses. It’s easy to see why. After all, if you are always off work for a doctor’s visit or there are days when you just can’t operate properly, your colleagues can easily have a tendency to feel angry rather than understanding. Of course, you don’t have to tell anyone about your condition, but the reality is that if your illness is affecting your work, you have to be straight – particularly with your boss and the human resources department. Most employers will accommodate you, but some can make it tricky – especially if your illness isn’t clearly visible. If you do run into resistance, it’s important to remember that you do have rights.
With insurance
One thing many people don’t realize is that if you have a chronic illness, you could be seen as a massive risk for insurance companies. It’s problematic in pretty much every area, but especially in things like medical and disability insurance. As Darras Law points out, people with chronic illness who end up with a disability or further, debilitating illness have to prove it was nothing to do with their original condition. It’s important to do your research before signing up for any insurance plan, to ensure you have the right level of cover.
With yourself
Finally, it’s easy to be tough on yourself when you have a chronic illness. You don’t want to be the ‘sick person’ in every room, and you want to prove the doubters wrong. There will be many occasions where you push yourself too far and try too hard to keep up, impress, or entertain.
But the reality is that many people with serious, chronic conditions need to adjust their lifestyle, aspirations and ideas about employment. This can lead to emotional issues, of course, so it’s important to know your limits and reach out for help when you need it. You can’t pour from an empty cup–so take care of you!
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