Although, on the outside, a person looks as if they’re in perfect health, there can be unseen issues of which they’re dealing with. The issues can hold someone back from basic enjoyable experiences, as simple as swimming at a public pool or attending social events. This goes much further than emotional instability or social anxiety. These two afore-mentioned conditions are often symptoms of a larger problem.
We’ve all met someone who has been dealing with personal
issues, ranging from a recent divorce to loss of a job, which are all temporary
states. Usually, once someone
overcomes the given emotional turmoil, set on by these events, they’re back to
themselves and it becomes ancient history.
What about the people that deal with a chronic illness on a daily basis
and will for the rest of their lives?
Think about it; typically, a person going through a divorce
or changing careers openly speaks to others about their problems. People will offer support and give them
breaks out of understanding and compassion.
At one point or another most of the population has experienced a sense
of loss or turmoil, hence, making these problems more relatable to a larger
number. With chronic diseases or unseen
illnesses there is a lack of understanding, and if anything, an abundance of
ignorance which can create fear and cause people to shy away from supporting
those who suffer.
It’s not hard to understand someone who’s experienced loss,
because we all have. It requires more
effort to understand someone with a disease we know nothing about and to
overcome our own fears due to the unknown.
The real point here is to consider other’s feelings regardless of what
you know, and if you’re truly afraid, educate yourself. You’ll make it easier on yourself, as well as,
broaden your empathy for people that will never heal and those that deal with
physical and emotional pain on a daily basis.
