Medical Mondays: You Are Not Alone

Ever since I read the shocking statistic that nearly 1 out of every 2 people in our country have some type of chronic illness, with 96% of those being in the category "invisible illness" (meaning you can't tell just by looking that they are sick), I can see why this topic of chronic health problems is such a big deal.

"But you don't look sick!"

If you hadn't heard, I got a book contract for my series titled, Sick and Tired: How to Live Graciously with Chronic Health Problems when you'd Rather Just Kick Something! I'm very excited about the books getting out there (hopefully in 2013) and giving empathy, encouragement, and practical help to people who aren't well enough to make it to a seminar or some other on-site way of meeting others like themselves.

It's easy to think that we are the only ones suffering in a world full of healthy, thriving people. We look around and see others moving faster, we hear about others doing things we used to do, we have to keep saying no to things we'd love to say yes to but can't.

Having a chronic illness can be painfully isolating. In simpler words, it's lonely.

That's why I've decided to dedicate my Monday blog posts to living with chronic illness/sickness/medical stuff. People with chronic health problems need empathy, encouragement and help, but we often don't find such in the world around us. People are waiting for us to "get better," or they just don't know what to say. Through the internet, however, we find others who are going through the same things--not the same exact illness, necessarily, but the fact of illness itself. We can help each other and lift each other up, and even give some good advice along the way.

And if you are one of those people in the Sick and Tired category, I've started a new group on Facebook you're invited to join! Here's the link; come on over and tell us about you!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/147614795374843/

Or, a really great resource, including an online forum, regular posts, etc. is Rest Ministries, or Hopekeepers, at http://www.restministriessunroom.com.

For the next 10 Mondays, I want to list the top 10 most important things I think you should know about having a chronic illness (for people who are ill and those who love them).

For now, what chronic illness do you have? Or do you love someone who has one? Are the statistics really true--are nearly 1 out of every 2 people in your world suffering somehow? Drop a line below and let's start a conversation!