Do You Live With an Invisible Illness?

Invisible Illness Week starts Sept. 10.  Some years ago, Lisa Copen and the folks at www.restministeries.com started a week of offering help and hope for people with chronic illness.  The term “invisible illness” was used because many people with chronic illness look fine; they look like normal healthy folks.  A common response these people hear from others is, “But you look fine.”  Well, we may look fine, but we don’t feel fine. About 96% of people who live with an illness have an illness that is invisible. These people do no use a cane or any assistive device and may look perfectly healthy

I have lived with the chronic pain of spinal degeneration and fibromyalgia for about 15 years.  In fact, the Lord used the cold, horribly painful winters up north, to guide me to southern Oklahoma.  At various times, when I mention my back pain to others, they’ve said, “Well, you look fine.”  I may look fine or normal to you, but my back and neck hurt everyday, and I have numerous physical limits.  Surveys show that one-third to one-half of Americans live with a chronic health condition.  Sixty percent of Americans with a chronic health condition are between the ages of 18 and 64.  Ninety percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77% have two or more chronic diseases.  

About 10 years ago, I discovered www.restministries.com which was founded by a young woman, Lisa Copen, with rheumatoid arthritis.   This site is a huge online ministry for people with chronic illness or chronic pain.  It has tons of free articles, and you can sign up for chronic pain email devotionals.  It also has resources for caregivers, families of patients, and parents of disabled children.  If you need help with anxiety/worry, anger, grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, fear, loneliness, love, joy, click the section on Emotions.  You can also find help with pain management and relationships.  A prayer request will be handled by their Encouragers Club.

Keeping our hope alive is a common theme for those of us with chronic illness, because of our health struggles.  Living with chronic illness hit our finances in 2 ways.  It reduces or eliminates one’s ability to work, while also causing more medical bills and prescription costs.  Most people with chronic pain experience depression.  Living with a chronic illness can wear you down.  So hope can be hard to find. 

Isaiah 40:29-31 says, He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
 will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint.  Trust in the Lord for hope and strength.

Invisible Illness Week will be Sept. 10-14.  Go to http://invisibleillnessweek.com/ to attend online seminars, both printed and video.  May our faithful God give you the strength and hope to continue living with your chronic health condition.