Writing

One of the tougher things about writing, in general, is that everything in writing seems black and white. You have to possess some literary artistry in order to truly convey meaning, hesitance, grey area, emotion, or any wavering.
In writing if you say something like:

"I am experiencing incontinence..."
It seems straightforward - simple, matter-of-fact, black and white.

In person, face-to-face, saying that exact sentence... 4 words... can seem or feel so much different. An extended pause can convey shame or embarrassment. Whispering the last word or saying with a specific facial expression can explain all anyone would ever need to know about the nature of that word.

What about:
"I feel sick."
Three words. In writing, simple, and yet I have so many follow-up questions.
What kind of sick? Are you going to puke right away? Did something happen? Are you nervous or anxious? Did you eat something wrong?

It all requires context, of course, but how do you rightly express yourself, without being misunderstood, in writing.
Especially small tidbits of writing - the shorter the explanation, the more difficult to properly interpret.

What I hope to convey in my writing is that I am ill. Unless a miracle cure comes along, I will most likely always be ill. That illness is not exaggerated or fake or by choice. The daily symptoms I experience are not enjoyable, not controllable, and they are serious. They can even be dangerous.
I also use humour as a coping mechanism. I make light of it - not because it is not serious, but because it IS serious, but if I treat it that way all of the time then I would lose my mind.
Speaking about something so serious in a casual way can be confusing - but it also is a method of showing others that this is my reality. This is my daily life, my daily routine. Just like everyone else has a daily routine or expected level of pain or energy, so do I. It just might be a little different.

Writing such a blog as this is an attempt to raise awareness of course, but also to talk about really awkward things in a light and humorous manner. I want to help others understand daily struggles... but like anything, writing can be misinterpreted or misconstrued. If you ever have any follow-up questions, email me at any time! Or ask me questions via Facebook (@thelightersideofmedicine) or Twitter (@BlogLighterSide).
I am always up for talking - about nearly everything regarding illness.