tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990998456213507715.post5761276828328486007..comments2023-04-09T03:38:25.779-07:00Comments on Chronic Illness, Christian Faith, and Other Laments: ConsiderDouglas Groothuis, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08766692378954258034noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990998456213507715.post-57215605029956226472012-03-31T08:48:07.626-07:002012-03-31T08:48:07.626-07:00Healthy people can be really annoying. Some of the...Healthy people can be really annoying. Some of them are frightened of us because if disease has happened to us, then it could just as well happen to them. They have to find something to blame so they can assure themselves that they will not be stricken. <br /><br />Many of them suffer from some kind of Pollyanna notion that we can simple think or will ourselves well. These people have to believe that they have this kind of mental or spiritual strength, so that if they are stricken, they can will themselves well. <br /><br />In the United States there are between 125 million (CDC statistic) and 133 million (Robert Wood Johnson statistic) with chronic illnesses. That is more than ONE IN THREE people!<br /><br />Many of these illnesses are invisible. Mine is. No one can see the silent organ damage that systemic lupus causes. No one can see that my risk of cardiovascular events it 6 times the normal population. <br /><br />As long as we are silent, as long as we think we are alone, as long as we hide our conditions, we are isolating ourselves and one another and we are enabling the 2/3 of the population that are healthy to live in a fantasy world where disease only happens to bad and flawed people. <br /><br />http://copingwithchronicillness.blogspot.comLinda Ruescherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10777929162356686223noreply@blogger.com