Welcome to Spoony Stories ❤️🥄 Sharing stories is a powerful reminder that we're not alone. Each week, we share stories from our vibrant community to hear all about their experiences being neurodivergent, chronically ill and disabled, and to get to know some of the voices that make our Spoony community so wonderful. This week, we chat with Miranda from Australia!
Welcome to Spoony Stories ❤️🥄 We're forever and always blown away by the kindness and generosity of our community on Spoony! No wonder one of the best parts of our week is getting to know some of the wonderful people on Spoony and learning more about their experiences with neurodivergence, chronic illness and disability.
This week, we've been chatting with Miranda from Australia. She opens up about what it's like to live with complex health conditions, her experience with friendships, and so much more! ♥️
Are you neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or disabled?
Disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent.
What health conditions do you have?
Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Hashimoto's Disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, ADHD, and C-PTSD.
How do you explain your health conditions to other people?
I've become more careful with how I explain my health conditions because I've been met with a lot of ableism. I usually explain that most of my health conditions were triggered by a virus, and that even though they are invisible, they still have a significant impact on my life.
What impact do your health conditions have on your daily life?
My health conditions have meant that I've had to give up my job, leave university, and move back in with family. I deal with a lot of fatigue, pain, and brain fog, and can't do a lot of the hobbies and activities that used to bring me joy. It's been a big adjustment.
What barriers have you experienced in making friends and connecting with people?
When my health became worse, I started to lose a lot of friends. It made me feel quite abandoned, even though I know that they simply couldn't cope with the changes that I was going through. Making friends requires energy and opportunity and as I'm forever lacking in energy and unable to leave the house, it feels out of reach to me.
What's been your experience on Spoony so far?
Spoony has helped me find friends who understand what it's like to live with lots of complex health conditions. I'm so grateful.
Each week, we share stories from the incredible Spoony community in our newsletter, podcast, and on social media. Share your story with us.