7 things I've learned about myself with chronic illness in 2022

A personal reflection

Hello from a very chilly Germany!

I’m currently tucked up in bed recovering from our multi-day train trip in the freezing cold and wanted to take some time to reflect (in listicle form) on the things I’ve learned about myself and how I think about my health in 2022.

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1) It’s never just as simple as a silver bullet, even when I wish it was

Earlier this year, I wrote about my hope after a new diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

As someone who has done a lot of work to focus on living with and accepting my conditions, instead of pinning all my hopes and ability to be happy on a cure, I couldn’t help but start dipping my toes into expectations for improvement that I hadn’t allowed myself to feel for a very long time.

Now, don’t get me wrong: the reason I am so interested in things like pacing or working with experts on better understanding how to manage these conditions is precisely because I believe there are ways to improve quality of life, even in absence of cures or adequate medical treatments. A handful of one percent changes can add up over time and make a difference.

And, if I were to psychoanalyse myself, focussing on these things helps to give me a feeling of control and autonomy in a situation that often feels like the opposite.