Sheryl from A Chronic Voice, as well as sharing her own stories and lessons with chronic illness. Sheryl is an excellent support to other bloggers and writers living with illness and chronic pain. One such way is through monthly link-up parties whereby bloggers and writers share their stories through given prompts. This month, I will be looking at snapshots of a ‘chronic life’ if it was portrayed on screen.

Recently I watched ‘Unbroken: The Path to Redemption,’ the inspiring of Louis Zamperini. The film follows his return from World War II, and his ongoing struggles to adjust back to civilian life.

I particularly enjoy watching films which depict true stories of real people. I love movies which capture the real lives and real struggles of amazing and inspiring people. Films capturing the stories of overcoming great adversity are incredibly poignant for a person like myself, who is suffering from demons.

Capturing Life With A Chronic Illness

It has made me wonder what a film capturing the life of someone living with a chronic illness would entail. Would anyone even enjoy or be interested in a movie depicting a story of someone diagnosed with a neurological disorder?

The answer would, unfortunately, be no. The truth is that although life with a chronic illness is anything but ordinary, it is one that can be monotonous. In the film Groundhog Day, the life of the main character repeats on an endless loop. The protagonist destined to repeat the same day over and over again. And this description is very much like what it is like to live with a chronic illness.

The reality of living with a chronic illness, it that every day is a repetition of the day before; consisting of the same symptoms. And restricted by the same limitations that these symptoms create.

"The reality of living with a chronic illness, it that every day is a repetition of the day before; consisting of the same symptoms. And restricted by the same limitations that these symptoms create." Click To Tweet

The beauty of the stories captured on screen is the vast array of different scenery; the varied locations in which the characters spend their time.

For those who are chronically ill, the majority of the time we spend within the confines of the same four walls. And when we do venture, out, we do so too familiar and safe locations.

And much of the time is spent alone; alone in our suffering. When we do venture out, or see people, we only do so when we feel comfortable enough to be seen, or feel somewhat in control of our symptoms. Being in control of something, in life where we think we have very little control.

Financing Between What We Can and Cannot Do

In this mundane and monotonous existence of living with chronic illness, is a need for carefully financing between what we can and cannot do. We wish that we could live like those characters in our favourite films, but unfortunately illness and pain our ability to do so.

Instead, we must carefully budget the limited energy we possess to be able to carry out the most critical tasks on our to-do list. And still, we must ensure that we have enough energy for the next day. As we balance the books between illness and the rest of our lives, the losses we have endured become much more evident.

"As we balance the books between illness and the rest of our lives, the losses we have endured become much more evident." Click To Tweet

Chronic illness, a constant thief, stealing abilities that once came so naturally. The continuous losses that we experience so cruelly are part of life with a chronic illness that we must grieve. It is not, however, a snapshot of this chronic life that we wish to be captured on screen for others to witness and study.

"Chronic illness, a constant thief, stealing abilities that once came so naturally. The continuous losses that we experience so cruelly are part of life with a chronic illness that we must grieve." Click To Tweet

Chronic Illness: A Controlling Thief

Watching those characters in our favourite television show or films, they seem so confident; in control of their lives. When living with a neurological disorder, however, much of our control transferred to the disease itself. Symptoms are controlling our bodies, affecting every facet of our lives.

We must learn to accept that for which we cannot control. And to have the courage to change those things that we can. To let go of the life that we dreamed we have, and to embrace the reality of the new life that has entered our life unexpectedly.

"We must learn to accept that for which we cannot control. And to have the courage to change those things that we can. And to embrace the reality of the new life that has entered our life unexpectedly." Click To Tweet

Exchanging Helplessness For Control in Defiance of the Uncontrollable

We wish we could exchange the feelings of helplessness for being in control in defiance of the uncontrollable. We desperately want to exchange our chronic lives and its debilitating symptoms for something better. A life that largely depends on surviving for a more productive and accomplished existence.

Living with a chronic illness requires constant adaptation, and with its growing what we can no longer do, we must exchange these for what we can. To live with life we can and to try and not dwell on the life we can no longer have. And the wish to exchange this new mundane life for one which is exciting and unique to be on the big screen.

"Living with a chronic illness requires constant adaptation, and exchange what we can no longer do with things that we can. To live with life we can and to try and not dwell on the life we can no longer have." Click To Tweet

Illness Is A Motivation Killer

I have great admiration for those characters that demonstrate a great deal of motivation to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Living with a chronic illness, however, find that my motivation ebbs and flows. It is easy to find the motivation to do something, do anything on those rare good days. On the days where symptoms are unrelenting, it is hard even to find the motivation to get out of bed.

When going through the tough times and find ourselves in the darkness, it can be challenging to claw ourselves out of the dark pit. The motivation to do anything is non-existent.

But dig ourselves out of the pit, we must, to rebuild a life worth living. It may not be the life we had planned, or a story worthy of an Oscar-worthy film. But it can still be a life that we can be proud of; it might not be a normal life, but it is ours.

"It may not be the life we had planned, or a story worthy of an Oscar-worthy film. But it can still be a life that we can be proud of; it might not be a normal life, but it is ours." Click To Tweet