as small as a world and as large as alone, 'I do not live in my parents basement because I am...

8:26pm April 6, 2014

Anonymous asked: 'I do not live in my parents basement because I am a loser or a creep or a pervert' no that is why. I know people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and with more serious illnesses, yet still manage to live a life and maintain a job. Admit it dude, stop lying to yourself and the gullible on tumblr.

thefrogman:

I’m glad you wrote in because it gives me the perfect opportunity to teach you some things.

Thing the first.

The severity of an illness falls upon a spectrum. A spectrum is a visual aid that represents two extremes on either end, and an infinite number of values in between.

Someone may have allergies, but they are not very severe. They may fall here on the spectrum.

Sick [————————————————-|—————] Healthy

Whereas someone who has very severe allergies might be here.

Sick [——|———————————————————] Healthy

So when you say you know a person with CFS, that doesn’t mean they have the same severity as me and it is foolish to compare our situations without that information.

Thing the second.

Comorbidity… “The presence of one or more additional disorders (or diseases) co-occurring with a primary disease or disorder.”

Comorbities can often make your primary illness more severe. An individual disorder on its own may not be debilitating, but when combined with another, it can make your health plummet.

I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is pretty severe.

Sick [——————|———————————————] Healthy

I have narcolepsy. Also quite severe, especially since I have been unable to find an effective treatment.

Sick [————————-|————————————-] Healthy

Here is the fun part. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome takes your restorative sleep and makes it very inefficient. My narcolepsy keeps me from reaching delta wave sleep, which is the most restorative. This conflict really messes with my overall health.

Sick [——|———————————————————] Healthy

Thing the third.

How do you rate the seriousness of illnesses? A soldier loses his legs to an IED. That’s pretty damn serious. But with therapy and prosthetic legs he becomes a paralympian. Is that more serious than a person dying of cancer? I have a friend who was hit by a drunk driver. He is paralyzed from the chest down. He told me that he would not trade illnesses with me. He has been able to travel the world. He has signed up for experimental bionic legs. He leaves his house every day.

My point is not that I think my poor health is more serious. My point is that various illnesses can limit you in many different ways and it is very hard to compare them. It isn’t a competition of who has it worst. We are all just trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Thing the fourth.

I HAVE A JOB. I run 3 websites, I have 2 webcomics, I have 2 employees, and I am slowly starting a photography business. I work hard every day that I am able. Most of the time I work from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. I have an income. I pay rent. I pay for food. I pay my bills. Yes, I do most of my work from bed, but saying I don’t have a job is insulting.

I am glad that the people you know are able to manage active lives despite their illness. That’s probably a lot harder than you realize. I’m living the best life I can within my limitations and so are they.

I know you may be explaining these things because you feel like someone will benefit from understanding them, even if it’s not the person who’s goading you.

But just in case you need a reminder:

You are not obligated to explain or justify your illness to anyone.

Notes: