Don't Pity Me

  A good friend of mine posted a picture of some text on Facebook. She also has a chronic disorder, and is constantly trying to educate others via conversation and shared Facebook articles and pictures.

  The message of the image was, "We don't talk about our problems to garner pity. We do it to educate, and because whether we want it to be or not, it's a major facet of our lives. We're still ordinary people. Learn about our difference, don't judge us for it. Pity is judgement." This isn't a quote from the image, but what I got out of reading it, and what I think others should, too. For the curious, I've included the image below.

  My friend shared the image from Chronic Perseverance's Facebook page. I don't know if that's where the image originated, but that's where it was found.

  This hits home hard. I've been an object of pity more than once. Shock, horror, "I wouldn't wish that on my enemy, I'm so sorry you have to deal with it!" There's a fine line between empathy and pity.

  If you're "sorry" about what I'm dealing with, you've passed the line. If you tell me, "Ugh, that sucks," or something similar, you're still safe. You're empathizing with me. Think twice about how you talk to anyone with a physical or mental health issue (or any other issue). If you're treating us outside the norm, you probably need to rethink your treatment of us. We're all people. Some of us have different hurdles to overcome than others, but everyone's on this big ball of rock hurdling through space all together. You have issues. I have issues; mine just happen to be physical.

  So don't pity me. Empathize with me, work with me, learn about me, but don't pity me. I don't want it, and I don't need it.