As we blog about our lives, our experiences, our hurts, our symptoms, etc. and the impact that chronic illness/conditions, we make ourselves vulnerable. Vulnerable in the obvious way of “putting ourselves out there”….yet also to the remarks of others.
For the most part, I have been so thankful for the positive comments, the likes, the shares…that demonstrate that I am reaching others who are benefiting from my writing.
I have chosen to use this format to also save what is left of my sanity. LOL It allows me to vent my emotions, to vocalize the “hidden symptoms”, to educate others that are not chronically ill to better understand those of us that are…
It is still frustrating, even after all this time, when a negative or demeaning comment is made. It can also feel like a knife to the heart or a punch to the stomach. It can also make me angry…angry more at the fact that the person doesn’t understand the reason behind the writing.
I am not looking for a pity party…I am not looking for sympathy…
I want to impart understanding…to reach out to others like me that are dealing with chronic illness/conditions.
It has helped me so much to read others blogs…to join on-line communities…to speak up for those that cannot vocalize their fears, their frustrations, their pain. I gain strength in the fact that I am not alone! This is what I want to share!
Mom Is Sick -- For Parents & Kids 
Comments on: "Vulnerability " (1)
Great post! As a nurse, and someone who has undiagnosed chronic pain, epilepsy, nutcracker syndrome, and pudendal neuralgia when I blog I use it as outlet to vent since I my health issues consume my life and sometimes it’s all I can talk about. My loved ones are very patient and supportive, but at times I know they want me to change up the conversation and having blogging as an outlet helps. When I first started blogging I had a fear that people would think I wanted pity, which is not my intention at all. Like you mentioned in your post, it was a way to make people aware and to educate them more. I’ve had epilepsy since I was 12 (I’m not 27), but my chronic pain didn’t start until a little over two years ago and as a nurse I’ve treated people who have had chronic pain issues, but until you actually have it you never fully understand it. I’ve heard nurses in the past say “oh they look too happy to be in pain” or “they’re sleeping, they can’t be in pain” or something along those lines. At the times I always told them, that they couldn’t judge another person’s pain, but now I can definitely say that and have experience with it. I go to work in pain and smile and help treat other people in pain. And I feel it’s my job to help educate and make other healthcare professionals aware. It’s terrible that you get demeaning comments at times, but don’t every let that stop you from writing. You’re making a difference at that’s what matters most.