I know having a chronic illness like endometriosis, life can be hard, people don’t fully understand what you go through on a daily basis to live but you really have to put that effort in to keep up friendships. Otherwise as I have experienced life can become very lonely. I 100% know its extremely hard to walk to the car sometimes let alone go out for dinner or drinks with your friends. But make that effort. Don’t say no straightaway. The most important and true friends will stand by you no matter what. They will be there when you need them and you will know it. I have learnt a lot this year about friendship especially from being ill for 6 months of the year! I can totally relate to anyone who’s to high on medication to even reply to a text and not feeling well enough to even cook my own dinner but deep down I knew I need my friends. You need to find a way to muddle through. I don’t have many friends but the few I have are really special to me and I love to socialise with them and keep in contact with them.
We all live are own lives and do our own thing but for someone with Endometriosis its really important to keep your friends to. You need that support around you at the worst times but you also need to support them back. I make the effort to either go and see them or invite them over. Even go out. I like to be ‘normal’ or at least feel ‘normal’ for a few hours. Its also good to have a distraction from your pain. Go out for that coffee, drink or meal. Even the cinema. It doesn’t have to be adventurous. But it will make you happier to spend time and have a laugh with friends.
One of my favourite things to do is to invite my friends over for dinner, I love to cook and its so nice to sit and chat over a meal and dessert is even better. Last month my best friend came over for dinner. We had chicken salad for dinner because we had the most amazing pudding for afters. Need I say we ate a pudding for 4 people between the 2 of us. But who cares its not like we pig out daily and the salad allowed us to do so. Its so nice to just chill, chat and catch up. Life gets busy with babies, children, work and everything else along the way but you know that evening really was lovely. You may also feel comfortable in your own home which will help on the bad days.
As I suffer with anxiety or shall I say I have since this year when I was really poorly. I sometimes feel like saying no but thats making me feel lonelier. So I have learnt to just say yes. Turn up in your jogging bottoms or comfy clothes they will not mind. Say yes and go out, do your best and enjoy yourself. Its important to do so. This is also a distraction for you and you really need to learn or find something to distract you. If you feel anxious or nervous before you go put some calm balm on. But especially with my friends they all know how I feel so its fine.
If your friends ask you to go run a marathon, unless your into running and its ok to do so they are most probably joking. Do what you can, whether thats going shopping or a nice meal. Anything you feel is doable.
Friends are really important in life and especially with endometriosis. You can hit rock bottom at any point it decides to attack you. Just be yourself, love the people around you and appreciate their support. You will learn to realise who really are true friends and who aren’t. Appreciate and put more effort into the ones who are real.
What is your favourite thing to do with your friends?
