I know what you mean about the grey and I think brain struggles to consider that life isn't binary because it is wired to simplify complex information and make quick decisions, which often leads to a tendency to think in black and white. But creating time to slow down and gather all the data needed to consider the grey is challenging, but not impossible.
Great stuff and will have more of a think about how I could help, but what first comes to mind is for you to write more and to copy-paste it to Twitter or a LinkedIn newsletter to get this important message out there in front of more eyeballs!
I agree, and I feel like we are being presented with more and more complex information and less and less time to process this information. Do you have any ideas of how people might be able to create time to slow down and process?
Great ideas! I think I am getting closer to publishing on LinkedIn, but it does feel like a jump at the moment. I think some nervousness about how people in my professional circle might react to what I'm writing about and how it might be received. Did you how similar feelings?
I think one of the hardest battles and my experience is mostly in dealing with chronic pain, but many diseases are similar the symptoms are often felt and not seen. It's awesome that you writing about it so people can understand it and others better. It's the whole "but you don't look sick". If there is no physical sign of illness/injury then everything is fine and in my clinical experience that is what makes living with it hard.
Yes, I agree. We have a long way to go with appreciating and understanding the needs of those living with invisible illnesses. As you said, we have a very narrow perspective of what sick is and looks like (running nose, cough or pale for example) and it is often reliant on visible cues. If we can build awareness of the broader perspective, and even leverage the growing awareness that is being built around mental health (something you can't always see), hopefully we will also build more empathy in the process for other invisible illnesses.
I know what you mean about the grey and I think brain struggles to consider that life isn't binary because it is wired to simplify complex information and make quick decisions, which often leads to a tendency to think in black and white. But creating time to slow down and gather all the data needed to consider the grey is challenging, but not impossible.
Great stuff and will have more of a think about how I could help, but what first comes to mind is for you to write more and to copy-paste it to Twitter or a LinkedIn newsletter to get this important message out there in front of more eyeballs!
I agree, and I feel like we are being presented with more and more complex information and less and less time to process this information. Do you have any ideas of how people might be able to create time to slow down and process?
Great ideas! I think I am getting closer to publishing on LinkedIn, but it does feel like a jump at the moment. I think some nervousness about how people in my professional circle might react to what I'm writing about and how it might be received. Did you how similar feelings?
I think one of the hardest battles and my experience is mostly in dealing with chronic pain, but many diseases are similar the symptoms are often felt and not seen. It's awesome that you writing about it so people can understand it and others better. It's the whole "but you don't look sick". If there is no physical sign of illness/injury then everything is fine and in my clinical experience that is what makes living with it hard.
Yes, I agree. We have a long way to go with appreciating and understanding the needs of those living with invisible illnesses. As you said, we have a very narrow perspective of what sick is and looks like (running nose, cough or pale for example) and it is often reliant on visible cues. If we can build awareness of the broader perspective, and even leverage the growing awareness that is being built around mental health (something you can't always see), hopefully we will also build more empathy in the process for other invisible illnesses.