http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/05/08/working-with-chronic-illness-a-place-called-normal/ Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:04:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/05/08/working-with-chronic-illness-a-place-called-normal/#comment-1009 Tara Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:00:23 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/05/08/working-with-chronic-illness-a-place-called-normal/#comment-1009 I am chronically ill and I work from home. I could not go to a work place on a regular basis successfully. I am very driven and have struggled with that realization for years. Because it is so critical to have an identity other than that of being ill. I am grateful for my part-time job that allows me to work from home, on the days I am able. I have other hobbies, but without work I don't seem to participate in them with the same self-respect I do while holding a job. I do believe that work is not for everyone that is chronically ill, but I do believe that an identity away from the illness is necessary. It allows for an entire universe of possiblity and experience that I can share with others. I think it means just as much to my support team to hear me talk about my life outside of my illness as it does to them to hear about my illness. It lifts the depression off of everyone involved in my life and my care. I am chronically ill and I work from home. I could not go to a work place on a regular basis successfully. I am very driven and have struggled with that realization for years. Because it is so critical to have an identity other than that of being ill. I am grateful for my part-time job that allows me to work from home, on the days I am able. I have other hobbies, but without work I don’t seem to participate in them with the same self-respect I do while holding a job. I do believe that work is not for everyone that is chronically ill, but I do believe that an identity away from the illness is necessary. It allows for an entire universe of possiblity and experience that I can share with others. I think it means just as much to my support team to hear me talk about my life outside of my illness as it does to them to hear about my illness. It lifts the depression off of everyone involved in my life and my care.

]]> http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/05/08/working-with-chronic-illness-a-place-called-normal/#comment-976 Diana Brice Thu, 10 May 2007 13:59:37 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/05/08/working-with-chronic-illness-a-place-called-normal/#comment-976 I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think that working does indeed keep our minds off ourselves and gives us a reason for being. Also I think that inertia is what makes us feel worse when we stay home and dwell on our feelings but working creates its own energy. This is not to say, however, that we should ignore warnings that we are really too sick to go to work today. Living with a chronic illness is definitely a delicate balance of knowing when you're really sick and knowing when you should press through the pain. Thank you Rosalind for providing a forum for those of us living and working with chronic illness. It's good to know we're not alone. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think that working does indeed keep our minds off ourselves and gives us a reason for being. Also I think that inertia is what makes us feel worse when we stay home and dwell on our feelings but working creates its own energy. This is not to say, however, that we should ignore warnings that we are really too sick to go to work today. Living with a chronic illness is definitely a delicate balance of knowing when you’re really sick and knowing when you should press through the pain. Thank you Rosalind for providing a forum for those of us living and working with chronic illness. It’s good to know we’re not alone.

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