Please do not judge

Don’t be too quick to judge those who suffer physically or psychologically.

I have never had migraine.  I know it is idiopathic and it is terrible.  But I don’t know how debilitating it could be.  Idiopathic means you don’t have control over what is happening to our body.  You can’t tell when it will happen.  You can’t do anything to prevent it.  You may avoid certain situations to minimize the chance to trigger attacks, but who knows?  It might be just waiting for us around the corner.  Once it happens, you just remain still waiting it to pass, hoping to survive.  After the first attack, you have to be constantly on guard.  There could be next attack at any moment.

Sounds familiar?

I have just been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease.  It’s idiopathic and I have no idea what triggered it.  In the last 6 weeks, I had 4 attacks.  Once it hits, I immediately have to lie down and wait it to pass.   Just raising head makes me terribly sick.  It won’t kill me but it is dangerous to stay upright because I lose balance.  Fortunately so far I was home when they happened. Now I am anxious.  What if it happens when I am riding subway?  What if it happens when I am walking alone at night?  What if it happens when I am walking down a stair alone at night?

I was suddenly thrown into a world full of danger.

Now I understand migraine is not just a headache.

You will never understand how debilitating it is to be a survivor of sexual assault unless you were sexually assaulted.  Yes, you can be compassionate and supportive, but you never understand how it feels.

So please don’t even think of judging those who are surviving.