A Life Hidden

Reflections on life within the constraints of severe illness

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

A reflection on chronic illness, isolation and feeling forgotten by the world. But also a look at the quiet ways in which we can be reminded that our lives still matter.

https://t.co/QEankrxnbi

[Tom Kindlon @TomKindlon]

"On Gratitude and Grief" by Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt (A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden )

https://t.co/LYaeDvYsNP

Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update

#SevereME #MEcfs

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

My new blog post on gratitude, grief - and the challenge of finding balance between the two. Although this is written from the perspective of living with long-term illness, I hope it will resonate with people in many different life situations.
🧵(1/5)

https://t.co/64dQ7LWqK8

[Tom Kindlon @TomKindlon]

🧵
"Glimpsing the World: My Joy and Pain" (2019) by Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt , who has had #severeME for decades

https://t.co/xkNTV1GeUG

#MEcfs @ALifeHidden

1/

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

As we approach #MEAwarenessWeek, a piece recognising the courage that exists in our community.

It acknowledges those who have lost their lives, those who have not improved, and those who’ve experienced progress.
https://t.co/Dppqw71YJV
(1/7)

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

A post on #NewYear that I wrote a few years ago. 🧵 (1/4)

https://t.co/9XPmDq1bdz

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

@PolycatV (2/2) I wonder if a way of reaching them could be to relate your illness to struggles they are familiar with? Eg, “I know you experience x,y,z, and my brain/body works in a very similar way.” Also, sharing other people’s stories might help, as it removes some of the emotion.

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

@PolycatV (1/2) In general I believe it’s always possible for people to gain greater understanding. That said, everyone’s perspective is influenced by their own life experiences, which can present challenges.

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

There’s been a huge response to my latest blog post - thank you for all the support.

This week it’s been republished in The Sick Times. (My original post is below.)

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

Recovery stories have been popular in the media lately. My thoughts on why, unless carefully handled, they can be distressing for the very people they seek to support.
🧵(1/4)

https://t.co/yO69hgnFMS

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

This isn’t a bad piece, and I salute the courage of those who allowed their stories to be told. But headlines matter, given that many people never read beyond them.

#ME has nothing whatsoever to do with tiredness. It’s pain and suffering on a scale that most cannot comprehend.

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

“It is hard to express the frightening sense of vulnerability engendered by being severely ill, and yet having genuine reason to fear the very system that is supposedly there to help.”

My reflections on #MaeveInquest (1/4)

https://t.co/DH7f72xaeF

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

I've had a number of new followers lately. So here's a bit about me. A 🧵

I'll start with one of my most popular posts, about the realisation of a long-held dream: touching the sea again after 30 years of being too ill to do so.

(1/7)
https://t.co/hE2sPZwW3X

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

My new blog post

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

Why the Pandemic Isn’t Over for Me

“In the way that someone in financial poverty must avoid any extra expenses, in my state of health poverty I will always be forced to budget on a scale that is unimaginable to those in health abundance.” (1/4)

https://t.co/lF45Egnb4B

[Irish ME/CFS Association @IrishMECFSAssoc]

Naomi has #SevereME

--
"Reminders of time passing can be hard to accept in the context of chronic illness. Upon reaching a year’s end,
I can’t escape a fleeting sense of sadness. Another year gone, with me
still not where I would wish to be." ---
https://t.co/MIV8nVH0XL
#MEcfs

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

I’ve had quite a few new followers over the last week. I’m not a big social media person so I’m afraid you won’t see much of me here, but I just wanted to say hello to everyone. If you’re new to my writing, here are a few pieces that are relevant to this time of year. (1/5) 🧵

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

@MEGroupAust Thank you 💜

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

My latest blog post.

[Naomi Whittingham @NaomiWhitt]

My new blog post, on the lasting impact of being disbelieved when severely ill. A 🧵

“For most of my life, I have lived under the shadow of other people’s narratives about me and my illness.” (1/5)

https://t.co/Nhkmxoc56t

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

@TheOldLostRoad Thank you 💜

[A Life Hidden @ALifeHidden]

Honoured that my writing inspired this important research.

[Emma Portch @e_portch]

I’m extremely pleased to announce publication of our new paper: ‘Welcome to my world’: A thematic analysis of the lived experiences of pwME during the UK COVID-19 lockdown’
https://t.co/egWAlKKTBo

#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #pwME #pwLC #MECFS 1/n