11 things we can't hear anymore

A curated nightmare of casual conversation – with a tired smile

ME/CFS brings a lot with it – exhaustion, pain, dysautonomia... and a whole host of well-meaning but completely misguided comments.
Here is the “Hall of Fame” of phrases we really (really!) can't hear anymore:

1. “We're all tired sometimes.”
   Oh, I see! I just haven't been getting enough sleep! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks for enlightening me!

2. “Well, when I had COVID, it was really just a cold.”
   Great! I've had headaches too. Call me a neurologist from now on.

3. “Just exercise a little more every day.”
   Exactly. I'll start with a half marathon—from my bed to the door.

4. “Get your hormones checked. It can happen at your age.”
   Thanks for the diagnosis: menopause. Always refreshing.

5. “But shouldn't it be getting better by now?”
   Yes. It should. Because illnesses stick to deadlines. Spoiler: they don't.

6. “But you don't look sick.”
   True. I don't wear my invisible illness on the catwalk.

7. “I know someone who had that too. He's back in great shape now! He didn't have to do anything.”
   Great. I know someone who won the lottery. Say hi!

8. “You can't get so worked up about it.”
   I'm not getting worked up—I'm lying down. It's basically the opposite.

9. “What do you do all day?”
   What do you think? I twiddle my thumbs in various states of energy.

10. “Well, at least you don't have to go to work.”
    That's right. I voluntarily lie in a darkened room wearing sunglasses and enjoy life. The ceiling looks exciting every day...

And the best part:

11. “You just have to want it.”
    Exactly. I also wanted to slide down a rainbow on a unicorn. Worked out pretty well.

We know that most people don't mean any harm.
But sometimes a simple “I believe you. That sounds really hard” is enough.

(You can save the rest. We get enough vitamin D already!)