Hi Arabelle! Do you have any tips on making/keeping friends while Sick? I have PTSD and Psychotic Depression which keeps me home a lot (I’m legally disabled, whatever that means). I can make friends initially but then as soon as I have an episode and I’m absent for a while they forget about me. I’m always finding out that everyone is hanging out without me. I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in. Thanks for your help! Your blog is a great comfort.

arabellesicardi:

Find your internet sick family! I feel like making friends with other sick people is essential, because they completely understand when you don’t have a lot of spoons for the day/week/whatever. Also, perhaps your friends haven’t forgotten about you – they’re waiting for you to let them know you’re safe and okay. Non sick people often literally just don’t know what to do. Here’s a piece on Rookie about FOMO that might make you feel better, also. I rarely get FOMO  nowadays myself….mostly because I know everyone only has so much time, and planning skills, and I know I’m still loved and often it’s my own decision to not go out. You’re not failing your friendships by taking care of yourself at home, okay, btw. Your friendships should be accommodating your body, not the other way around. When I’m having a depressive episode or ideating I tend to withdraw from personal contact and my friends take turns checking in on me via text or email or literally showing up at my door or facetiming. They like, don’t let me feel as alone as I think I am. My sick friends also advocate on my behalf – either calling up doctors with me or writing me approachable to do lists, or buying me seamless when I don’t want to go outside to hang out or whatever. I hope you find friends like that too.