When I attended the Endometriosis UK info day. I was struck by how universally chronic illness had impacted the lives of so many people. Both women and men, families and friends from all racial and social backgrounds.
I found this again when I attended a local support group for people affected by Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME.
In fact chronic illness was was the common thread that had brought all of us together. In many ways this is a positive aspect of illness that is frequently overlooked. Chronic illness puts people on the same page. You could have nothing else in common with a person, live in opposite sides of the country or come from vastly different backgrounds and still have one very strong defining trait in common.
Chronic illness brings many different people all ages and economic backgrounds. Illness gives all it blights a collective strength. Crucially it’s made me want to know everything I can, not just about my chronic illness, but about everyone’s. We stand a better chance of raising awareness of illness collectively rather than alone.