Life with a chronic illness or disability is hard– hell, life alone is hard, and those of us with pain are carrying a heavier load than most. I think most wisdom comes from experience: the best quotes about chronic pain, disability and mental health come from those living with them day in and day out.
It’s Not Easy To Find A Quote about Disability That’s Inspiring Without Being Saccharine
Do I need inspiration and motivation as much as the next girl? Sure. But a lot of the “inspirational’ quotes about chronic pain and mental health challenges are too sweet or too sappy to be helpful for my sarcastic, sardonic self. So this year, when I see the rare quote about disability that really resonates with me, I’ve decided I’m going to make a graphic for it so I don’t forget. I’ll keep updating as I find more quotes about chronic pain (etc etc) that are encouraging without being… too much.
Scroll down for info on where these came from, who said them, and animated, pinnable full-size versions of them all. Please share them with whoever you think they might help and post them wherever they might do some good.
Fabulous Females With Fibro (and MS)
Selma Blair has been a huge inspiration to me in how openly and honestly she has dealt with the challenges of her multiple sclerosis. (I actually wrote an entire post about how frickin’ amazing she is– check it out!) This quote comes from her first instagram post about her diagnosis:
Is your memory foggy too? Mine sure is– click here to score the printable medical log I use to keep track of shit and learn more about how and why I use it
Speaking of famous women who are complete badasses while still dealing with health shit… let’s talk Lady Gaga! In an earlier Vogue cover article about her life, she opened up about her struggles with invisible illness and chronic pain. She then had this to say about life with fibromyalgia:
Click here to hook up with her “Born This Way” Foundation.” They work “with and for young people to build the kinder, braver world we know is possible.”
Or limp, or roll, or stumble. Doesn’t matter how you manage it, as long as you do.
Looking to the future while still grieving the past
It’s been a hard couple of years for us all. This quote is from a self-described “Nigerian wordsmith”: check out her website! Hoo boy do I feel this one.
Are you healing from an injury or surgery? Check out this list of helpful around-the-house items that made my life easier after my laminectomy!
“Grief in chronic illness. Yep, grief happens there too (and no one’s died).”
That’s the title of the blog post this final quote is from, written by a British psychologist with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (a connective tissue disorder). It’s great: after you finish this, you should go read the whole thing. There are easily half a dozen other quotes I could have pulled (and may still someday!) If I had found a psych person like her early on, it would have made so much difference.
And finally, it’s time to rest. Keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming “sleep hygiene for chronic pain” article, coming soon to a productive 2023 near you!
