Tag Archives: coping

Pretty Much the Worst

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

One of the worst things someone said to me recently about my disability was: With all the stuff you’re doing, you work just as hard as someone working full time. The charitable and loving way to interpret this statement is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

DIY Brain Rehab

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

Cognitive difficulties are part and parcel of ME/CFS. Brain fog, memory problems, difficulty with focus and attention, and reduced processing speed are just a few of the deficits we deal with every day. And cognitive effort can cause post-exertional malaise … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Brilliant Scientist Among the #MillionsMissing

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

My friend Barb opened a window into the extraordinary loss she has endured because of ME/CFS. Please read her powerful statement, and count her among the #MillionsMissing. If you want a tiny peek into what I live with every day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

I Am Among the #MillionsMissing

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

I miss hiking. Getting into the woods, to the enveloping strength of nature, was my favorite thing to do. I wanted to through-hike the Appalachian Trail. I miss more weddings, graduations, and funerals than I can count. I miss having … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

How I Sleep At Night

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

One of the great incongruities of ME/CFS is that despite our bone-crushing brain-stealing fatigue, we are frequently unable to sleep. And if we do sleep, the quality of the sleep is very poor. This quickly sets up an escalating feedback … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Epic Eye Roll

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Jennie Spotila

I had a shocking experience at a doctor’s office yesterday. It was my first visit to his office for an issue unrelated to ME/CFS. After breezing into the room and making a sarcastic remark about the quality of doctors’ notes … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Saying No

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

How To Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness is Toni Bernhard’s latest book. I’ve reviewed Toni’s previous books (here, here, and here), but over the course of years, Toni has become one of my most beloved friends. So while … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

A Year of Thanks

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

This year has been hard, y’all. HARD. Sometimes I think that my Mom’s death took a scoop of my soul along with her. And then just over six months later, my husband (my caregiver, my best friend, my everything) had … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Alone in the Woods

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

I’m happy to share this guest post from Joe Landson. Man, can I relate to this! Each of us patients has that one dear relative, friend, or acquaintance – the one who tells us, repeatedly, that we can do anything … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Guest Post: Slightly Snarky

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Joe Landson authors this guest post on the chasm between patient experiences and the people who need to understand them. We suffer through many devastating symptoms, but today I’m only thinking of one. It’s perhaps the most devastating effect of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments