Most people with a long-term illness have an extra struggle to deal with: the onslaught of well-intentioned suggestions. “You should try ___.” Yoga, intermittent fasting, my sister’s naturopath, ozone therapy, Tai Chi, stem cell replacement, Buddhist meditation, IV antibiotics, and on and on and on… Having an illness can mean that people assume you want advice on how to heal.
I could wallpaper my room with the variety of suggestions I’ve gotten. If you have been on the receiving end, you know it’s often stressful, but it’s hard to define why — especially to the people giving the suggestions.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about this phenomenon because in addition to being sick, I am also a therapist for people with chronic illness.
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