You can’t understand if you haven’t been there.
You need to walk a mile in their shoes.
Or shoe.
Or wheel if you can’t walk.
You wake up more exhausted and in more pain than you went to bed.
Too exhausted or in too much pain to shower or bath.
Nausea means you feel like you’re moving when you’re still.
Electric lights hurt your brain.
Flashing lights and movement give you vertigo.
Loud noises hurt your ears.
Clothes hurt your skin, any touch is painful.
Food hurts your stomach.
Any medication has side effects that can make it worse.
Pity hurts.
Helpful suggestions hurt.
Help not requested hurts.
Most give up trying to get government help, it’s worse than the Spanish Inquisition.
NHS incompetence, filters and rudeness mean you’d rather suffer or die than go to them.
We don’t need their box tickers and inquisitors.
We need listeners, understanders, and carers.
We need a far more compassionate, caring, helpful and understanding society.
Because the odds are that one day it will be you or someone you love.