The Cinderella Concept
Understanding Chronic Illness and Sustaining Personal Connections Requires Viewing Time as Nonlinear and Unpredictable.
Transforming Relationships with Chronically Ill Individuals
After living with an invisible chronic illness for over 15 years, I’ve experienced deep loneliness, been misunderstood, and grieved the loss of my former athletic, able-bodied self. Along the way, I’ve encountered a range of frustrating responses—from disbelief to dismissive comments like, “This sounds like anxiety,” or “It’s all in your head.”
Even well-meaning advice, such as “Just rest,” “Exercise,” or “Have you tried eliminating X, Y, or Z from your diet?” reveals how often people—despite good intentions—fail to truly hear and understand what many chronically ill individuals are saying.
The Cinderella Concept creates a visual to help others believe and witness how life has changed.
Living with an invisible chronic illness leaves me feeling unseen, as though my life has been relegated to the feeder road, running parallel to the fast lane of others’ predictable, linear lives. I’ve spoken with many others living with conditions such as ME/CFS, Long COVID, and Fibromyalgia, and my experience is far from unique.
Although we may look “fine” on the outside—perhaps managing to appear put-together for brief moments like a doctor’s appointment—this effort masks how deeply these conditions affect our daily functioning. The frustration, confusion, and isolation we feel are common among the growing population of individuals with invisible chronic conditions, who long to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are, despite their challenges.
