I'm sad to share with you that my Dad passed away on August 6th. 

He went quickly and peacefully which was the best possible outcome for him though of course, hard for those of us who love and miss him.

I'm easing back into work now and doing my best to navigate all the new experiences that come with losing your last parent, the administration of his estate and everything that comes with it. 

I think that all forms of grief come in waves, including the grief of chronic illness. Sometimes the waves are small and gentle and sometimes, huge and overwhelming.

All we can do is ride them out and be compassionate with ourselves until they pass. 

And if you are also grieving Friend, know I am sending some extra love and your way. 

After a while, most people who live with chronic illness give up trying to talk about what it's like and how it feels, because people don't seem to understand.

Especially as time goes on and those around you don't see you 'getting better' and can't seem to grasp what 'chronic' actually means.

Often, when you do try to explain and seek support, you end up feeling judged, shamed and disbelieved, even by the very professionals who are supposed to be there to help you.

You can be told to stop being so negative, not let the illness define you or offered unsolicited advice that seems to completely ignore the complex reality of your illness.

So at a time in your life when you are most in need of empathy, compassion and understanding, you can end up feeling more alone than you have ever felt before.

In this episode, I go through all of the key reasons why we don't talk about chronic illness.

Why it happens, where peoples beliefs and judgements come from and more importantly, what you can do to help yourself when sharing leaves you feeling guilty, judged, blamed and alone.

If you have tried talking about the impacts of chronic illness on your life and no one seems to understand, then this episode is for you.

Chronic illness is very real and you deserve to be believed and supported.

Make sure you listen and share and if you want to help me reach more people who need to hear this, I would so appreciate it if you would leave a positive review on your favorite podcast player!

Let’s help educate and spread the word of the practical realities and emotional issues that becoming chronically ill bring from those who know it best.

It is only by sharing our stories and experiences that we can help someone else know that they are not alone when it comes to chronic illness.

I would love to help you get the belief and support you need and deserve.

wam wishes