Invisible illness is a particular type of suffering, I've found. I could feel the frustration, the irritation, the anger, the grief in your essay today. I've felt it, too. I can say that, because I'm also a migraine sufferer, the onset for me in 2020, as well, following the birth of my fifth child. People might see a smiling shell of a person, but they don't understand bodily pain and the way it drains a person, discourages, impedes their ability to enjoy life or pursue everyday tasks sometimes. I wish you well on this MFA pursuit, Natalie, and thanks for sharing about this pivotal point in your life.
I am not in chronic pain but have a chronic illness that limits my activities. I have been forced to accept that it is what it is, and that it will continue to limit me physically. I am very thankful that this did not come on until I was post career. I can't begin to imagine your situation. I hold out hope that you will find a solution to your Halting problem. Best wishes.
This was such a poignant piece. I live with multiple chronic illnesses, including migraine disease, so I really do understand. The pain and the challenges ebb and flow, and I found that I have to be flexible with my expectations about my what my body can or cannot do on any given day. I wish you all the best, and I look forward to following your Substack.
You're obviously bright and willing to shine your brilliance. I've had a chronic cancer for almost 15 years, and nerve damage from a 2021 intense case of shingles causing difficulty with clothing and catching sleep. You are a very sensitive soul, which is a huge albeit difficult gift to integrate. My hunch is that the intense amount of hours in front of a blue screen in an environment with so many blue screens led to your condition. The computer companies don't have and don't want scientific write-ups on the sinister and obstructing effects these technological advances also provide. I wish you pain alleviation and something that becomes even more you, as you step into each tomorrow.
Hey Natalie—and anyone else reading this dealing with chronic pain—I have no guarantee this will work for you, but it’s worth looking into the possibility that you have neuroplastic pain.
I’ve suffered from severe back pain for over ten years and I was convinced it was a physical problem. Turns out it was a danger signal from my brain.
A lot of chronic pain falls into this category, and Natalie, I don’t know where you are on your journey—I’ll be honest, I got excited to comment and only skimmed—but your case sounds very similar to the author of this book, which cured my pain for seven dollars.
If you haven’t found a way to manage your pain and have settled for living with it, I really recommend you give it a read or a listen. I literally cried while listening to it, because it was the first time I had hope that I wouldn’t be living with pain for the rest of my life.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’d be happy to answer them.
As a migraneur, I can relate. I recently discovered that this qualifies as a disability. Since I’ve suffered from headaches since my childhood, I both welcomed and questioned the qualification. Finally someone understood, but why hadn’t anyone told me sooner that my pain was legitimate.
I’m sorry to hear you have been suffering for so long! It’s in nobody’s best interest except yours to validate your pain, I’m writing about this very issue in the coming weeks.
So wrenching, and so beautifully told. Non sequitur, but: there’s fairly good evidence that psilocybin – even at very low doses – helps with migraines.
Hi Natalie,
Invisible illness is a particular type of suffering, I've found. I could feel the frustration, the irritation, the anger, the grief in your essay today. I've felt it, too. I can say that, because I'm also a migraine sufferer, the onset for me in 2020, as well, following the birth of my fifth child. People might see a smiling shell of a person, but they don't understand bodily pain and the way it drains a person, discourages, impedes their ability to enjoy life or pursue everyday tasks sometimes. I wish you well on this MFA pursuit, Natalie, and thanks for sharing about this pivotal point in your life.
Wishing you moments of joy amidst the pain, Jeannie. Thanks for reading!
I am not in chronic pain but have a chronic illness that limits my activities. I have been forced to accept that it is what it is, and that it will continue to limit me physically. I am very thankful that this did not come on until I was post career. I can't begin to imagine your situation. I hold out hope that you will find a solution to your Halting problem. Best wishes.
Thanks, Evelyn! Good luck in your battle with chronic illness, praying for your strength and encouragement 💚
Thank you. Best wishes for you - may a solution be found.
This was such a poignant piece. I live with multiple chronic illnesses, including migraine disease, so I really do understand. The pain and the challenges ebb and flow, and I found that I have to be flexible with my expectations about my what my body can or cannot do on any given day. I wish you all the best, and I look forward to following your Substack.
Thank you for reading, Stephanie! I’d love to stay in touch with a fellow migraineur ☺️
You're obviously bright and willing to shine your brilliance. I've had a chronic cancer for almost 15 years, and nerve damage from a 2021 intense case of shingles causing difficulty with clothing and catching sleep. You are a very sensitive soul, which is a huge albeit difficult gift to integrate. My hunch is that the intense amount of hours in front of a blue screen in an environment with so many blue screens led to your condition. The computer companies don't have and don't want scientific write-ups on the sinister and obstructing effects these technological advances also provide. I wish you pain alleviation and something that becomes even more you, as you step into each tomorrow.
Hey Natalie—and anyone else reading this dealing with chronic pain—I have no guarantee this will work for you, but it’s worth looking into the possibility that you have neuroplastic pain.
I’ve suffered from severe back pain for over ten years and I was convinced it was a physical problem. Turns out it was a danger signal from my brain.
A lot of chronic pain falls into this category, and Natalie, I don’t know where you are on your journey—I’ll be honest, I got excited to comment and only skimmed—but your case sounds very similar to the author of this book, which cured my pain for seven dollars.
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-Revolutionary-Scientifically-Approach/dp/059308683X
If you haven’t found a way to manage your pain and have settled for living with it, I really recommend you give it a read or a listen. I literally cried while listening to it, because it was the first time I had hope that I wouldn’t be living with pain for the rest of my life.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’d be happy to answer them.
As a migraneur, I can relate. I recently discovered that this qualifies as a disability. Since I’ve suffered from headaches since my childhood, I both welcomed and questioned the qualification. Finally someone understood, but why hadn’t anyone told me sooner that my pain was legitimate.
I’m sorry to hear you have been suffering for so long! It’s in nobody’s best interest except yours to validate your pain, I’m writing about this very issue in the coming weeks.
So wrenching, and so beautifully told. Non sequitur, but: there’s fairly good evidence that psilocybin – even at very low doses – helps with migraines.
What an excellent piece, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for reading! 💚