It’s been nearly 15 years or maybe even more since I’ve started trying to find help for all my symptoms. Mostly I ended up feeling crazy… (“Am I gaslighting myself? I must be.”) So much happens internally that you can’t see, can’t share. You sound like you have the flu 49x a year. People don’t understand just how tired you are. What the aches and pains are like… so constant, drumming, sharp, dull, here today and over there tomorrow! Everything is worse because nothing makes sense and no one understands, even the ones that really, really try.

I don’t know how to feel about the diagnosis yet. I have a lot of reading to do, to start. Any favorite resources, books, educational materials (for myself or my partner?). I’d love to hear how others cope, too, if anyone feels like sharing. Feels like I’m the Queen of Random Self-Care Interventions and always doing something or another for my physical and mental health. Just hearing from others would be awesome; it’s so strange to find a word exists for all of these symptoms, all this time.