 |
Email the Society |
 |
Donations |
ME/CFS AUSTRALIA (SA) INC
Registered Charity 698
Mailing address:
GPO Box 383,
Adelaide,
South Australia 5001
Office:
266 Port Road,
Hindmarsh,
South Australia 5007
Ph: (08) 8346 3237
('834 MECFS')
Office Hours:
Wednesdays, 10am-3pm
Support Line:
(Mondays and Thursdays,
10am-3pm)
Ph: (08) 8346 3237
SA country callers:
Ph: 1300 128 339
(local call)
FIBROMYALGIA HELP: Contact Fibromyalgia SA at the Arthritis Foundation of SA 118 Richmond Road, Marleston 5033 Ph: (08) 8379 5711 |
ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc supports the needs of sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and related illnesses. We do this by providing services and information to members.
|
Disclaimer
ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc aims to keep members informed of the various research projects, diets, medications, therapies etc. All communication, both verbal and written, is merely to disseminate information and not to make recommendations or directives.
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed on this Web site are not necessarily the official views of the Society or its Committee and are not simply an endorsement of products or services.
| Become a Member | |||
|
Dealing with dismissive attitude towards Fibromyalgia and CFS
Saturday 5 March 2011
Adrienne Dellwo discusses an unhelpfully common problem for many people with ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia:
Dealing With Dismissive Attitudes Toward Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Nearly all of us have heard it -- "I can't believe you're that sick when you look just fine." Ignorant, dismissive attitudes like that can haunt people with invisible, poorly understood illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
I recently got an email (thanks, Anne!) about a woman she met online who has a brilliant way to strike back against those who dismiss our symptoms simply because they don't understand them – throw it right back at them. For example:
Healthy person: "I don't see anything wrong with you and I don't believe in chronic fatigue syndrome. You just need to get some exercise and you'll feel better."
You: "Didn't you say your mother is diabetic?"
Healthy: "Yes, she's really been struggling with it."
You: "I've seen your mother and she looks just fine to me. I think she's just whining and being lazy."
I have to say, I laughed out loud when I first read about this tactic! It almost makes me want someone to make a ridiculous statement to me about fibromyalgia.
I've said this before, but I think it's worth bringing up again: we need to be prepared for these conversations so we know what to say. Yes, brain fog may complicate your response, but the better you're prepared the more likely you are to come out with something worthwhile.
For example, if a health-care worker ever questions these illnesses to my face, I plan to ask, "Are you too lazy to keep up with the research or too incompetent to understand it?" I run it through my head before every encounter with a new doctor.
Have you come up with a way to deflect those unwelcome comments? What stupid, insulting things have people said to you? Have you thought of the perfect response too late to use it? Leave your comments below!
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
• A Simple Explanation of Fibromyalgia
• A Simple Explanation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• When Someone You Know Has Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The above, with many comments, originally appeared here.
|
More Fibromyalgia News |
blog comments powered by Disqus
Previous Page |
