Living With Severe ME/CFS, Who Am I Now?

Who am I? When living with severe chronic illness it can be easy to feel like you’ve lost your identity. When experiencing a loss of identity, you start doubting yourself, you lose confidence, you lack purpose and vision. You start to feel useless. It is important to reflect and ​remember who you are​. Reignite your dreams and goals, your passion and purpose. ​

​Being diagnosed with a severe chronic illness means those things can become a bit blurry. When you can no longer do the job or hobbies you used to do or think and learn and read and move the way you used to, it can seem like all those plans you had for your life are a distant memory, an impossibility…

The truth is that although things are very different now, it’s still possible to find joy and meaning in every day and even discover or fulfil your purpose.

Worship night at home, Chronically Hopeful

Worship nights at home

Eating out, Chinese, Chronically Hopeful

Eating out with friends

Paintball, Chronically Hopeful

Paintball with friends

Who I was before ME/cfs

  • a Christian
  • a teacher
  • a carer and advocate
  • a friend
  • a sister
  • a daughter
  • a perpetual student
  • a lover of nature, an explorer
  • a blogger
  • a lover of social media
  • a wannabe photographer
  • a foodie
  • joyful
  • grateful
  • shy, lacking self-confidence
  • curious
  • creative
  • hopeful / optimist
  • hard-working
  • people pleaser
  • perfectionist
  • stressed
  • unfit and overweight
  • very busy 

I had a rewarding job and social life, I hit the ground running every morning, but looking back, I was over-booked and struggling to keep up. As a whole I would say I was happy, but exhausted.

Theme park, Chronically Hopeful

Going to theme parks

Dressing up at work, Chronically Hopeful

Work was interesting

Learning to make sushi, Chronically Hopeful

Learning to make sushi

Who I Am Now

Since falling ill a lot has changed, but many of those things that previously defined my life still do today. It just looks different now.

I’m still a child of God

I can no longer go to church, but I read my Bible, various devotionals and listen to live streaming sessions online. Many churches now record their Sunday services as well as other Bible studies throughout the week. I have connected with many other Christians online and we encourage each other and pray for each other regularly. There are many ways I can live out my faith while living with chronic illness.

I’m still curious, a perpetual student and teacher

I can no longer work, I have to spend most of my time lying back on my bed or sofa, but I spend as much time and energy as I can learning and educating people (online) about this illness and how we can adjust to our new normal. I also share information about nutrition and other things I have learned.

I’m still a sister and a daughter

​Though I am unable to spend long sessions with my family, we now live in the same country and see each other every week! 

I am still a friend

​Although most of my friends from before no longer keep in touch, I have a host of new friends I have made online. People who understand what I’m going through, people who relate and don’t pity or judge or even feel uncomfortable around illness. People who enjoy the same hobbies or interests I do. People who inspire me daily.

Blogging, Chronically Hopeful

I can still write, learn and teach

Mini cacti, Chronically Hopeful

I take good care of them

Daily Reading, My Utmost, Chronically Hopeful

Daily reading: Spiritual food

I’m still a blogger and a lover of social media​

I now have more time to dedicate to writing and sharing my thoughts. Being as shy as I am, I find it much easier to write my thoughts and opinions down, I’ve always been this way. First it was pages and pages of handwritten letters to my best friends at school, then with the internet came emails and then blogs.

I’m still a foodie​

Although I cannot cook anymore, I’m a hazard in the kitchen now! I can hunt or even invent recipes to match my new dietary requirements, it’s a challenge to find things that will meet all my needs and not cause adverse reactions – I love a challenge! And I can still enjoy my meals even if I don’t get to cook them.

I still take photos daily

​Despite often being shaky and many photos ​being binned, I take a few shots daily. To document my life, to illustrate these blog posts or share on social media. Sometimes it’s just a selfie or a photo of my meal, but on better days I do try to take the more artistic shot of something pretty around the house.

Journaling, Chronically Hopeful

Planning and Journaling

Crochet, Chronically Hopeful

Crocheting in bed

White blossoms, Chronically Hopeful

Occasional exploration outside

I’m still hopeful, joyful and grateful

It bubbles up inside me, I cannot contain it. I have an excitement about life and the possibilities each day holds. I know who holds my tomorrows and I know His plans for me are wonderful despite what this broken world and broken body throw at me.

Some days I am disappointed by my body’s inability to do the things I wanted to do, but it doesn’t steal my joy. Even if I’m in too much pain to move, I can recall memories of fun times I’ve had, like the ones pictured above or I can daydream and plan for better days ahead. 

I still doubt myself often​

But I’m more determined now to make the most of my energy and time so I tend to step out of my comfort zone more now, reach out and speak up where I would have been silent before.

I’m still a people pleaser and perfectionist​

This means I still never want to upset or disappoint anybody, but these things are part of life, you can’t please everybody, and I have come a long way in accepting that.

I am able to turn away from disputes (online) and intentionally remove conflict and stress from my life. It’s vital now, I don’t have a choice if I want to have good days. ME/CFS thrives and grows infinitely stronger in conflict and chaos, so it must be avoided. My trouble area is saying no to things. I still tend to bite off more than I can chew. 

I am still an advocate, a carer and lover of nature

I still dress up and support causes I am passionate about – and that won’t ever change – there’s just less clowning around involved. There are still causes I can support and advocacy I can take part in, even from my bed.

So although I can’t work with children with Autism or Cerebral Palsy anymore, I can be an advocate when energy allows, and I definitely still enjoy looking after my plants.

The 4 Points, Chronically Hopeful

The 4 Points: Jesus saves

Advocacy, Chronically Hopeful

Millions Missing, ME Action

Low Spoon Warning, Chronically Hopeful

Not all disabilities are visible

​Still a hard-working optimist

I consistently overestimate my ability and capacity to do things though. Perhaps this is a sign that I am still an optimist. I say yes to many projects and causes, but soon realise that my body needs more rest than I’ve allowed time for. Nothing new there. This shows that I am still a hard-worker and like to keep busy. It is something I am currently focusing on though, as it is another vital skill I must learn: say no and rest!

I have more control over my weight

Thanks to my low carb way of eating, I’ve managed to have more control over my weight. According to my heart rate monitor, despite all my efforts and resting much of the day, my heart is still stressed. This is just a symptom on ME/CFS and not something I have complete control over. My living conditions and lifestyle are anything but stressful thanks to the support of my wonderful family. I can however practice radical rest regularly which does seem to help. Even if only for a few minutes at a time. It is another one of my focus points this month.

I am still creative!

I actually have more time to play with my art and craft supplies now, when energy permits of course. There are many creative things I can do each day, whether it’s painting, crochet, drawing, colouring, knitting, making graphics to share online or setting up my weekly spreads in my bullet journal. Many of these can even be done while reclined in bed!

So you see, I’m still me

​S​ee, despite being housebound and often confined to bed, I am still me. My core qualities are not useless, they have not vanished. They are still there and they are transferable!

I have not lost anything, everything that came before illness ​is experience gained, now I will just experience new things, or the same things differently.

If I can no longer use my skills and experience my interests in the way I used to, there is a new way I can put those talents to use. I just have to find it.

We can still shine brightly and accomplish much each day. Even if stuck in the dark, alone. I see warriors doing this daily. You can find your place and purpose too! ​You can bloom wherever you are planted.

Char lying on the bed, feeling ill. Title reads: Living with severe M.E. Who am I now? When it feels like you've lost your identity to chronic illness

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​It might require some imagination or even some work to get started, but if you follow your passion, it will lead you to your purpose.

Quote pain can change you, ChronicallyHopeful
Quote, pursue your passion, ChronicallyHopeful
Quote, strive for progress, not perfection, ChronicallyHopeful

Thank you for stopping by. Hugs, Char xx
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Chronically Hopeful
Chronically Hopeful

Char was born and raised in Africa, but has been settled in Europe for over 20 years. She's passionate about living well, despite chronic illness. Apart from blogging, she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, gaming, various creative hobbies and learning new things.

She used to be a teacher, but has been housebound with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis since 2015. Since then, she's focused on spending the little energy and strength she has each day on the people and activities she loves. Finding joy in the small things and celebrating the ordinary.

13 Comments

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  1. Well said. This disease strips us of so much (and those we love of us), and yet, through it all we find elements of self that continue.

    • Absolutely! We continue to be ourselves, it might just take on a new form, look different, manifest differently, but at our core we are still there and still have much to offer. Wishing you a happy weekend!

  2. I can so relate to this. I came down with chronic migraines last summer and my whole world changed. I changed. I can no longer do many of the things I used to do, but I am still me.

    • Yes you are! I am so sorry you have to deal with migraines. They are not fun at all. My worst days are when my head hurts – just makes everything so much harder to handle. I hope you have a pain free weekend. Hugs

  3. This is a beautiful post, I absolutely loved reading it and can identify a few similarities with myself if I were to write this. I’m disappointed with myself a little for not being so joyous about life, because I loved this part : “I’m still hopeful, joyful and grateful – It bubbles up inside me, I cannot contain it. I have an excitement about life and the possibilities each day holds.” You are so right though in identifying that there are changes between the person pre-chronic illness and the person now, but that we are still people with a valuable place in the world, still with much of the same amazing qualities that were there before, and although there are some bumps and scratches along the way, we also develop and grow in positive ways we may not have otherwise.  ♥
    Caz xx

    • So true! I am glad you enjoyed the post. You are right, we develop and grow in some unexpected and beautiful ways while we weather the storms. Wishing you a happy weekend, Caz. Hugs

  4. This post is great and so are you. It’s tough to live with chronic pain but it’s also helped me to learn ‘who I am’ – not sure I truly knew before!

    • Thanks, Jorja. I think many struggle with feeling like they’ve lost their identity… It is important to sit back and really think about it. I believe that at our core we are still the same person, but maybe depending on our condition, we might have new abilities and opportunities that we would miss if we only focused on our perceived losses and didn’t take the time to really assess and accept our current circumstances and what we can still do.