Myth Debunked III of VI

IT’S NOT A REAL CONDITION

What makes a disease, disorder or illness real? The terms used for any condition have been coined by someone for the first time and added to medical manuals to account for certain diagnostic markers or symptoms.

What makes that condition real? The lack of a specific test to definitively conclude the presence of fibromyalgia does not make it any less real than the many conditions that likewise lack a particular test for diagnosis. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is challenging and often involves a process of elimination. Nonetheless, there are specific diagnostic criteria to be used in a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is also an invisible illness. Just because someone may look ‘fine’ does not mean that they are. Many Fibromites and those with chronic pain have become skilled at downplaying just how poorly they’re feeling and how bad their pain and other symptoms really are. “I’m fine” is probably our most common lie.

^{There are several different version of this all of which are accurate}.

Just because a condition cannot be seen from simply looking at a person does not mean the illness does not exist.

What Does a Disability Look Like?

According to the World Health Organization, disability has three components:

1. Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, either physical or mental. Examples include loss of a limb, loss of vision or memory loss.
2. Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving.
3. Participation restrictions to normal daily activities. Examples include working, and engaging in social & recreational activities,

So as you can see, not all persons with disability have necessarily have a physical component. Additionally, there are medical conditions and disabilities that are not visible including diabetes, lupus & fibromyalgia.

I’m a good example of that in that I have fibromyalgia and other issues but I don’t use a cane at the moment. As a result, I don’t look like I have an impairment . Pain is invisible so they don’t know and cannot tell that my pain level is a 1/10 (I know, very funny) or 8/10 today.

Some Disabilities Can’t be Seen

Not all disabilities are visible! In fact, the majority are invisible.. Here is a ist of many of the conditions that are not readily apparent & are ‘invisible’. This list is by no means exhaustive

• Chronic Pain
• Arthritis, both rheumatoid and osteo.
• CFSME or MECFS
• Fibromyalgia
• Mental Health including but not limited to depression, anxiety, PTSD,, bi-polar, & schizophrenia…
• Sleep disorders including sleep apnea RLS and TMJ
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Digestive issues such as Crohn’s, Celiac, Colitis, & IBS,
• Endometriosis
• HIV or AIDS
• Chronic migraines
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• Multiple sclerosis or MS,
• Severe Food & Chemical Allergies including Gluten.
• Renal failure & heart failure
• Brain injury including concussions, stroke & meningitis
• Spinal Injuries
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,
• Narcolepsy,
• Repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis & carpal tunnel syndrome
• Learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia & Processing Deficits
• , Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Deafness, Blindness, Hearing loss, Speech impairments
• Autism

Temporary Invisible Disabilities include:

• Surgery
• Severe Muscle Strain/Sprain
• Pregnancy
• Episodal mental health conditions
• Severe infections