The Girl With Arthritis

I think one of the hardest things about chronic pain to deal with is the frustration. Frustration and anger are the results of many things. "Why isn't the treatment working?" "Why can't they understand?"  "Why does the world have to go at such a fast pace?" "Why can't everything go back to the way it was before?" "Why did this happen to me?" I wish with all my heart that I had all the answers, but I don't. I'm sorry. I really am, because I know having the answers could help a lot. It's very common to get frustrated or even angry about these things. It's hard to always look towards the positives when negatives are thrown in your way all the time. It's okay. It's okay to feel upset because the pain is everywhere or because you're tired all the time. You're body isn't feeling well and your brain is aware. It's so aware that it makes you worried about if something is wrong, and sad whe...

A lot of people automatically call me Liz when they first hear my name. It's unfortunate for me, because I'm not too fond of the nickname. I prefer Elizabeth, that's just who I am. While I don't really correct friends anymore, I do introduce myself as Elizabeth and will correct them gently ("So Liz..." "Elizabeth, please."). And I do make a point to call another by the name they insist they like being called: I will never assume that Oliver prefers Ollie or that Grace doesn't enjoy her nickname. I'm not the type to really make assumptions. I don't assume everyone is healthy, but unfortunately a lot of people do. Someone once yelled at me for sitting on a train when there was clearly a disabled person in need of a seat: Himself (It was not visibly obvious he was handicap). I had put in a full day of stairs, walking and even running to catch a train and I was obviously exhausted. I'm quite aware he picked on me just because I'm yo...

I'm just having a bad day today. I just really don't like how I feel when I move: Everything is sore and stiff and uncomfortable. I'm extremely frustrated right now. All that frustration comes from feeling awkward about the way I move, being uncomfortable from the pain, being upset that I can't do much to help the pain and that people just don't get that I don't feel good, and from being held back from doing what I really want to get done. I'll probably just relax for a bit now and see if tomorrow is better: I had a few things I wanted to do that I'm really just not up for at the moment. The truth is, arthritis isn't just a chronic and painful illness. It's an uncomfortable, frustrating, awkward disease. Sorry, I just needed to express the emotional symptoms.