anyone with a chronic illness knows, life with one isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be downright hard. As a student, there’s can be an extra layer of challenges as you are also trying to manage a course load at the same time. And then throw in the Corona Virus.
Being “At Risk”
The scary fact is that you don’t know what this virus will do to you and your compromised immune system. Will you react much the same as others if you get it or will it take you down for months, perhaps leaving some permanent scars. It’s that unknown piece that scares the bejeebers out of me. What will happen if…..
Being Young and “At Risk”
For those of us much younger than the average “at risk” individuals, some extra challenges come into play. First, if you have an invisible illness, people may simply not believe you. Second, if your stores have special hours for “at risk” individuals to shop, trust me, we will get stares for our young age. Many think we are “sneaking” in to get in when the shopping is good. When in reality we are just trying to practice good healthcare habits given our situation.
Life “At Risk”
It sometimes can be very easy to try to put our illnesses on the back burner. In short, try to forget that we have a chronic illness. Either because our symptoms are at a minimum at the moment or because they’ve just become our new norm.
The Corona virus has changed all that. We now must think constantly before we go anywhere or touch anything that has been potentially “exposed.” And all this means that we are thinking more about our illness. It’s become as front and center as it was when we first got diagnosed. I don’t know if you are like me or not, but I don’t want it there. I want it on the backburner of my life as much as possible (even though in reality it is always front and center).
To be quite frank, this is a lot to deal with for anyone. I think when you are young though there’s this added layer of issues. When you are older, as my parents have told me, you expect illnesses will crop up. As someone that is quite young still, I don’t expect to be handed a chronic illness and told to deal with it. For decades upon decades. It not only is unexpected at our age but there’s the added fact that we will be dealing with it for much longer.
Realistic Optimism
I always like to end on a happy ending, which is a bit hard with this topic but one thing the Corona virus has taught me is some good skills that I will carry over when this is long over. Washing my hands much more frequently to prevent other illnesses. Social distancing when others are sick to prevent my compromised immune system to go into overdrive. Safe to say, a few very good take-aways from this whole tragic situation.
What about you?
Are you “at risk?” What do you find most challenging? Have you encountered “at risk” young adults and questioned their activities? If so, hopefully this is an eye opener – chronic illnesses do not age discriminate. Even if you are not “at risk” how has this virus affected you as a young adult?
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