Invisible Illnesses Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Why You Should Come to the CNN Health ‘Chat’ on Illness

September 18, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

CNN Health features a chat based on interest from Invisible Illness Awareness Week, with founder Lisa Copen, hosting. Thank you for all your help with Invisible Illness Awareness Week. I have some follow up emails set to come out in future days, but this one took priority about the opportunity over at CNN Health. When we live with invisible illnesses we often say no one understands. They don't understand the pain, the fatigue, the strength it takes to push through it all. They don't get our fear of infections, the stress of the bills, none of it. And we wish the media would do more to cover invisible illness than just show celebrities who seem to be "back to their old life" once they have taken certain medications. Well, CNN … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Events, Founder's Blog, Health News, Invisible Illnesses, What's New?

Where is Hope? Those With Invisible Illness Share God’s Reminders

August 31, 2012 By admin 2 Comments

Where is hope? How do we find hope? Each day God sends us reminders that He has it all under control. How can you share your hope with people around the world today? Good morning! Yesterday I gave you an update on what Invisible Illness Week is all about. I thought I would share a few highlights over the next few days. I know you may be thinking, "I don't need anything else on my plate right now." I understand. Really. And if you are "into" social media like Facebook and Twitter you know the power of using these tools to spread the word. But if you are rolling your eyes right now and saying, "Oh, no, not another Facebook thing-a-ma-jig I have to learn . . . " don't worry! Stay with me! I have been putting Invisible Illness … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Articles, Events, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: where is hope

Why You Should Care About Invisible Illness Awareness Week

August 29, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Invisible Illness Awareness Week is a great opportunity to learn new skills from authors and experts (many of them Christian professionals), as well as share your hope! Hi there, friends! Well, my son is back to school and I am in crunch-mode for Invisible Illness Awareness Week! What is II Week? Ten years ago I saw many people here at Rest Ministries who were on a great walk with God. They even had some idea how God may be able to use their illness for His glory. But there was a little problem. . . A lot of people still felt incredibly bitter, angry even, that no one understood what they were experiencing on a daily basis. And, oh my! The frustration they had about having an invisible illness really rocked their world. It seeped … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Articles, Events, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week

Responding With Grace To Those Who Offer New Cures

July 19, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

When someone with good intentions presents the latest new cures for your illness, how do you respond with grace and not resentment? Michele shares. “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:20-21) Almost daily I receive messages from someone who suggests I try something that has helped them. Knowing they are well meaning, I appreciate all the suggestions; although I feel that they do not understand my chronic illnesses; for what may help one, does not mean it will help me too. Even when I’ve tried the latest “fad” or treatment, months later my body becomes immune to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alternative Treatments, Devotionals, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Healing, Hurt Feelings, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: new cures

Awareness Week Preparations Begin For Those with Invisible Illnesses

July 17, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

We have started our summer preparations for Invisible Illness Awareness Week! Hi, Friends! I am excited to be kicking off our summer prep for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week! Did you know Rest Ministries is behind this awareness week? Rest Ministries began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (NICIAW "for short" -- I know it's a mouth full!) in 2002 and so we are celebrating 10 years this year! When we first began the awareness week, we had a chatroom for our virtual conference and the term "invisible illness" was rarely even seen online. Through the years, the support of many of you have made this awareness week one of the coolest events online, as thousands join in for the virtual conference (where … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Announcements, Attitude, Coping Skills, Events, Explaining Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Illnesses, Invisible Illnesses, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week, invisible illness awareness week

“You Are Too Young to Be That Sick!”

June 14, 2012 By admin 16 Comments

"You are too young to be that ill! Oh, you are too young to be dealing with that kind of pain." Why do simple, even well-intentioned words hurt so much? By Lisa Copen At the age of twenty-four, a thousand miles away from my family and living in a new city, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Over a period of four weeks and about eight doctor’s visits, I finally found a physician of internal medicine who listened to me explain my symptoms; in less than two days I had a diagnosis. Despite the terms “chronic” and “forever” I felt relieved to know the label that described my chronic pain. Few of my friends, however, shared my enthusiasm for a diagnosis. The managers at my office were more concerned about the fact that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Friendships, Invisible Illnesses, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Arthritis, Chronic, Conditions and Diseases, Fibromyalgia, Health, hidden disabilities, Illness, invisible disabilities, invisible illness, Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties, lisa copen, Pain, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, you are too young, you dont look sick, you look fine

Bring a Meal and Make is Special With Free Printable Labels

May 7, 2012 By admin 21 Comments

When one is chronically ill, and a friend wishes to help her, the first thing that comes to mind is to bring a meal. In fact, since the most popular gift to bring is a meal, I wrote the book, Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend to get people to think beyond food. Sometimes all we can think of is to bring a meal! Why is that? Well, a meal is a gift of comfort. And even though we --who are chronically ill--may be physically able to cook, it takes a burden off of us so that we can use the energy we would have spent cooking doing something else. I have discovered that many people who cook for the chronically ill and offer to bring a meal to them, are actually ill themselves. Though it is easy to understand new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Beyond Casseroles, Caregiver, Cooking, Free Printables, Friend Has Illness, Invisible Illnesses, Ministry - Personal, Need to Know, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Chronic Illness, Conditions and Diseases, deacons, free labels for meals, Health, meal delivery, meals for family, meals for recovery, organize meals, organize meals for sick friend, printables, Rest Ministries, take a meal

Q&A: How Can I Let People Know Their Perfume is Making Me Sick?

January 5, 2012 By admin 7 Comments

I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and when people who are wearing perfume want to hug me they transfer their scent to my clothing! How can we let people know that their perfume is having the opposite intended effect on some people? That to someone with MCS, their perfume is about 20 times more intense and nauseating! I'm not comfortable saying, "Hi there! No offense, but your perfume makes me gag! No, I can't sit next to you!" If I were king, I'd lump perfume with cigarette smoke and ban it in public places! Sorry you perfume lovers-- nothing personal. I am just trying to breathe and be healthy. --Semi-silent sufferer, attending church on-line Dear Semi-silent sufferer, You are definitely not alone! Although many assume this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church Leader, Coping Skills, Help! Q/A, Invisible Illnesses, Links, Person w/ Illness Tagged With: asthma, chemical sensitivities, chemicals, Chronic Illness, fragrance free, mcs, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Perfume Free

When Illness Threatens to Make You Feel Invisible

November 8, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

I once heard the comparison that life with chronic illness was sort of like "living in the parenthesis." It can sound like a bad Christmas letter. . . We have had the most fabulous year (despite mom being in the hospital a couple of weeks). We had a wonderful trip to the lake and went camping (mom stayed in a motel nearby) and everyone waterskiied and sunbathed (except mom, she can't be in the sun or ski so she just watched from under a canopy). We went to see the caves (mom couldn't walk the stairs so she just rested at the motel). We are looking forward to getting together with you this year (Mom can't travel so we hope you can visit us!) Does life ever feel that way? Over in the Rest Ministries Sunroom Bet shared her heart on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Founder's Blog, Invisible Illnesses, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, God, Gospel of Matthew, Invisibility, Jesus, Lord, Martha, Mary

Today Starts Invisible Illness Week

September 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Today starts Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Each day there will be a post at the Invisible Illness Week website (our sister site) on the podcasts we are "featuring" that day. I began this in 2002 and it's reached out to hundreds of thousands of people over the years, encouraging them that they are not alone. This year we will not be having a "live show." I made this decision earlier in the year for many reasons, and have been glad I listened to the Lord's instruction. August I was sick most of the month from an allergic reaction to a medication. The day after my son returned to school, for the first time in 15 years my computer had it's hard drive go bad. (On an 18-month old computer!) It was at the shop a week and just I it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Events, Invisible Illnesses, Podcasts, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, event, God, invisible illness awareness, Invisible Illness Week, Jesus, lisa copen, you are not alone

Raise Your Hands If You Really Love Jesus

August 16, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

Shannon Dingle Last month, my church hosted a large women's conference. We put it on every other year, and it is truly a blessing. I really loved our musicians this time and enjoyed worshiping with other women from different churches and neighborhoods and backgrounds. Such a sweet glimpse of what heaven--plus men and children, of course--has in store for us! It was especially sweet to have this time, while my sweet husband was home with our two preschoolers, because I was in pain that weekend. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my IV meds had worn off with three weeks before the next dose. Some movements gave me the sensation of needles in my joints, which isn't so pleasant (and some lack of movement did the same, but there wasn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, God, Jesus, Religion & Spirituality, Y'all

Invisible Illness Week News to Know

July 15, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

National Invisible Illness Awareness Week will be held this year September 12-18, 2011. This annual event is sponsored by Rest Ministries and Lisa Copen began it in the year 2002. Here are things to know: [1] Spiritual Warfare is Happenin'! In less than a week Lisa has received more mean-spirited e-mails and comments did in past years combined. There is a lot of spiritual warfare going on even among those who live with illness. Many of them want National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week to specifically serve those who are atheists (and proud of it) as well as those who live with "alternative lifestyles." Despite the fact that most all illness support online is for a secular audience, people want to stir up controversy for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Announcements, Events, Invisible Illnesses, Links, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Christian, God, Illness, Invisible Illness Week, Lord, Prayer, Rest Ministries, Spiritual warfare