avatarScott Ninneman

Summary

The author shares their personal journey with chronic illnesses, including bipolar disorder and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), emphasizing that despite the challenges, life is worth living.

Abstract

The article titled "Life Is Worth Living — Always" presents a deeply personal account of living with chronic mental and physical illnesses. The author describes the struggle of dealing with both bipolar disorder and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), highlighting the years of misdiagnosis and the relief of finally receiving proper treatment. Despite the pain and the nights spent wishing for an end to their suffering, the author's message is one of resilience and hope, encouraging readers to hold on through the hard days because better ones are ahead. The article concludes with an invitation to subscribe to the author's newsletter for further support and resources on managing bipolar disorder.

Opinions

  • The author acknowledges the difficulty of living with chronic illnesses, likening it to an arduous mountain climb.
  • They express a sense of isolation and frustration from a long period of misdiagnosis, suggesting that doctors attributed their symptoms to various unrelated conditions.
  • The author conveys a moment of desperation where the pain of FMF led to a prayer for death, showcasing the depth of their struggle.
  • Despite the severity of their condition, the author's tone is one of perseverance, emphasizing that the difficult days are temporary and that life's value persists.
  • The author's experience with bipolar disorder and FMF is presented not as a source of envy but as a shared human experience of overcoming adversity.
  • The article offers a message of encouragement, urging those with chronic illnesses to continue fighting and to look forward to improved days.

Life Is Worth Living — Always

Image created by author with Canva.

A little man is playing drums in my head, and there’s an elephant perched on my chest. No, I’m not sick. Well, at least not with anything contagious.

Life with a chronic illness is like climbing a mountain. Many days are a struggle where the exertion takes all you’ve got. That’s true whether it’s a mental or physical illness. If you’re lucky, like me, you get to have both. Bipolar disorder and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) walk hand in hand with me every day.

Jealous? I didn’t think so.

For a long time, I wanted to quit. It took eight years of severe symptoms to get my Familial Mediterranean Fever diagnosis. Looking back, the disease has plagued me for decades, but doctors misdiagnosed me as having everything from asthma to irritable bowel syndrome.

Photo by Jorik Kleen on Unsplash

I get it. Life is hard. Some days, it just plain sucks. Those days don’t last forever.

At my worst, I remember spending one night rolling back and forth on my bed. FMF’s grip around my abdomen was so tight, each breath was a fight. I prayed that night to die, for it all to stop. I couldn’t fight another day.

But I did.

In time, I received the correct diagnosis and started a treatment plan that made my life so much better.

Some days are easy, some feel impossible to survive. On the harder days, hold on with all your might. Better days will come again. Life is always worth living. You won’t always feel this way.

Until next time, keep fighting.

Sign up for my FREE Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off-site link) and I’ll send you a few downloadable gifts to improve your life.

Bipolar Disorder
Mental Health
Mental Illness
Mediterranean Fever
Bipolar
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