đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
When fatigue feels heavier than your body can carry
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​ Hey Reader, Have you ever noticed how the hardest part of fatigue isn’t always the exhaustion itself? For me, the emotional fallout used to hurt even more than the crash. When my energy tanked, I didn’t just cancel plans or shuffle my to-do list. I spiraled. I replayed every other time I’d had to back out, every worry about letting people down, every nagging thought that maybe this really was my fault. The fatigue would pass eventually. But the shame? That stuck around. I used to think I could outsmart the unpredictability if I just had enough discipline. But the truth is, energy fluctuations are part of chronic illness—and they say nothing about my worth, reliability, or character. That realization didn’t erase the emotional toll overnight, but it gave me a place to start. I began practicing tiny shifts:
None of these made my illness go away. But they helped me respond differently. And for the first time, I felt like I wasn’t at war with myself every time my body said “not today.” That’s what I want for you too. I wrote more about this in my latest post: ​ ​ If energy crashes leave you stuck in shame, I think you’ll find it validating and practical. ​ ​
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April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie
đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
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