> Chronic illness patients not only face painful physical symptoms, but also mental ones that linger even when the disease is well controlled. I could talk a l

> Chronic illness patients not only face painful physical symptoms, but also mental ones that linger even when the disease is well controlled. I could talk a lot about the article, but this lesson should standout. With a chronic illness, you are forced either by stigma or because you like maintaining relationships, to hide or pretend the symptoms of your disease is better than it is. This creates loneliness, in someone already under significant strain. This month an article was published, examining suicide rates in people suffering from my own non-fatal chronic illness. They're ten times higher than the general population, and are unaccompanied by the usual suicide markers. It's no surprise to me. Chronic illnesses can vary day to day, and having a support network than can support you when things unexpectedly go to pot is essential... And it's essential that the support network won't collapse the moment you do. If you have the support network... It's essential you use it when you need it, unfortunately, in my experience most people can only really be there for you so often, and people can unexpectedly fail to be the ones helpful to you. That will be one of the most painful lessons to learn. Who to trust, and how often you can lean on someone else, and what you can lean on others for. Everyone is different, and their circumstances change too, which means every response will be different. Every symptom, flare and even remission is a mental assault. Make sure you have people manning the battlements.