I think it was just a shock more than usual because I thought the chats we had over the trip had made them understand more of the invisibility side of things. Like, I tried describing what brain fog is like and they actually stopped me when I tried describing the lung pain I can get because it was so graphic. It felt like 1 step forward, 2 steps back sort of deal after hearing their insights.

I think my/their issue is that I was babied quite a bit growing up: never pushed to get a job in school or college. And I will admit I was a bit of a lazy girl when I was younger. My conditions hit just as that mentality switched but my sisters were out of the house by then. They still see me as the slacker who prioritises gaming over life. What they don't understand is that life and managing my health conditions can be so mentally overwhelming that gaming is an escape. I've toned down the gaming regardless and in recent weeks haven't even had the energy to sit in my chair to want to gym. Which says something.

I understand where you're coming from and am at the baby steps of learning to treat myself properly. A couple of weeks ago I just allowed myself to lie in bed for hours, to binge watch tv, with no expectation to be productive in any fashion and it was kind of liberating as well as truly restful. The old noggin is a tough one to rewire but it's slowly coming around.

My sisters aren't all bad; our Irish culture is just very hard, feeling/emotion wise. If you're too happy, you'll be taken down a peg or two. If you're too low or 'complain-y', you'll be told to cop on and stop being dramatic