Excluded

People with invisible and/or chronic diseases sometimes experience invisible bullying. Not the usual audible and visible bullying but the silent, hurtful strategy of exclusion...As if they are not enough to join, just too awkward, the odd or ugly duckling sort of...

Sometimes it's not with conscious, the people around you is just used to you saying no to invitations, activities etc., so they simply forget about you when it's time for something fun. But the truth is that it hurts to not be asked even if you know that you can't participate. It feels like you're not worth anything, you don't exist in their world. You're no fun....

It's hard enough not to be physically or mentally able to do everything you want, not being included in the community only makes it worse, and once in a while, on really good days, you actually can participate in certain activities.

Then there are those who are afraid to ask, afraid to seem ruthless and mean or totally incomprehensible to your problems. Sure, there may be functionally diverse people who react that way, but I think most people would just be grateful for someone to ask.

So if you have someone in your immediate sourrounding, a friend, a co-worker or a relative that almost always say no to your invitations, just ask anyway, it can totally make their day...

XOXO