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Chronic Illness Isn’t the Center of My Life
I can count on my chronic illness affecting me every single day. But I refuse to make it the center of my life.
Whenever I find myself talking to someone about living with trigeminal neuralgia (TN), I wonder if I talk about it too much. Even if I’m directly asked about my health, I worry that my conversation partner will get bored and find me boring. I worry that my truth is alienating them — because though TN is one of the most significant experiences of my life, it isn’t necessarily relatable in theirs.
My concern about how much TN has colored my life extends well beyond my relationships. I worry if I am focusing on my chronic illness too much and, in doing so, if I’m attracting more health woes in the future. It may seem ridiculous, but I’m a firm believer that what we put our attention on persists.
That’s why I’m determined to not make chronic illness the center of my life.
But even if it isn’t the center, it affects every part of my life. There isn’t a single facet of my life that hasn’t been touched by my condition, which can be a hard pill to swallow (pun totally intended).
The hard stuff
I don’t want to wax lyrical about how TN has affected me physically. I’ve already done that and it is obvious. The physical toll is deep and…
