How do you deal with the accusations?
 

I've lost track of the number of times I've been accused of faking or exaggerating my medical problems. No person seems to be immune: I've had it from friends, family, medical professionals, and people for whom it's not even their business. Any special way you've found to deal with this?

Many of the "invisible" illnesses with chronic pain & symptoms get that same thing.

I guess you have to know inside yourself that it is real and these other people just don't really understand or know you as a person.
But hopefully you have a few supporters that do, and trust what you are experiencing.

I lost many friends before I got a diagnosis. It was difficult for months trying to tell them this. Once, I was in the hospital, they finally got the idea. Every day, with hope and patience, I am getting better.

I literally had to go threw my own war with numerous MDs that would try to give me pain meds, antidepressants etc ANYTHING TO GET ME OUT OF THEIR FACE!I tried one time and then declined so then they started with muscle relaxers.This one MD had me on 4 muscle relaxers @ same time:eek:

I lost all my friends I was the combat queen and hated everything:eek:
I had my family thinking I was on drugs:eek:
Then I finally got a MD to get me to a Neurologist to get the diagnosis...even thow I did have to fight with him for a little time...but we finally got the test and diagnosis from my neuropsyc test.I was so close to even getting swept under the rug with neuro because of my attitude:eek:

Then we get diagnosis and some friends,family and neurologist said this diagnosis explains it all!

And thanks for this year and half war I have PTSD!

Do not worry if people do not understand.Just focus on you!

I had to deal with this years ago with my fibromyalgia and again now with PCS. Not surprisingly it's the same people that said things back then that are saying things now... but she looks fine... she just has to try harder and get over it....

I don't have a lot of good advice because I still find it very painful and hard to deal with! All I do is distance myself from those people. I don't even try to convince them. You have to try to ignore it for your own sanity.

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in this one, unfortunately.

I hope today is a good day.

CC

Friends come,

Friends go,

And then there are some,

Who never let you go.

Family is Family.....For Life.

And I will always love my wife.

Well I'll admit it, I crumble.

I've never had a problem like this before that was basically invisible or that I couldn't just push through no matter what. (I can't count the number of migraines I worked through in my lifetime because I can't bear to miss something at work)

So I've never really experienced the pain of accusations, therefore I'm pretty highly sensitive to it.

I cry. Pretty much every time. I think people are cruel. And then someone defends them saying they don't know any better, and I cry some more, because hurtful people get a defence team, but I don't. I find I expect too much, that people would be kind, and when they show differently I'm so hurt.

It's been a wake up call. I need to be stronger, and let things roll off.

It's hard
 

I try to explain, and when that fails, I over-explain to blank expressions, and when that fails, I disconnect and distance myself. It's sad that people can be so judgemental.

DFayesMom, I do the same thing as you. Sometimes I will let them see me when I am having a major problem with chronic pain. That always shuts them up. They may not understand what is wrong but they know it is very bad and best if they shut it. I am beyond caring what they think other than my family. Those are the only ones that I get upset about. They are really coming around though. Actually with my dad now having Shy-Dragers (double Parkinson's disease) they see that when you have a problem with your brain that you are unable to control certain things. They are learning. They are at least trying now. It is a huge relief.
Brain :grouphug: don't let them bother you guys!

Dear Kenjhee,

You may find it easiest to be the one in control and be the first to say that you know how hard it must be to understand symptoms that are unseen. But would they rather see an axe hanging out of your head?

You are not alone even though it may temp. feel like it. We are all struggling with not being believed. The ones who do listen hold onto them because they must really love you.