Blogging for Awareness of Invisible Illness Week Unites Thousands
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Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA have a chronic illness and according to U.S. Census Bureau about 96% of illnesses are invisible. So it comes as no surprise that with hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet searching for health support and information, thousands of people now post daily blogs about the emotional trials they experience while facing chronic pain on a regular basis.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008, will include, as an element of their outreach, thirty days of guest bloggers, as well as bloggers all over the web posting about invisible illness issues. One situation many chronically ill people experience is the skeptical and critical looks they receive when they park in a handicapped parking spot, despite that they are doing so legally.
Bloggers around the web are joining this awareness effort for Invisible Illness Week, showing support through their own blogs by posting about different issues related to invisible illness. One can even download an “I’m blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness Week” badge to let others know about their commitment to the cause. Bloggers are also publicly thanked each Friday on the Invisible Illness Week blog, gaining extra exposure for their own blog. Bloggers are posting on their own schedule, but the II Week committee is also encouraging them to post specifically on September 8th, creating a large kick off of awareness for the beginning of the week.
Lisa Copen, founder of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week says, “We live with thousands of illnesses, but we have more in common than not. Illness impacts our lives: our families, careers, finances, and daily living. We can learn a great deal from each other.” She adds, “And frankly, most people would like their friends and family to be more in touch with the fact that despite the ill person ‘looking so good’ they truly are in a great deal of pain.”
Laurie Edwards is the author of a recently published book called, “Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties.” She has blogged about her illness since 2006 and says, “When you are a young adult people expect you to put in long hours to establish a career, to jump into the dating world, and to build a life for yourself. But they certainly don’t expect you to be sick. There’s no such thing as ‘too young’ to be sick! That is just one of the many reasons why Invisible Illness Week is so important!”
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillness.wordpress.com . You can also receive updates, participate in surveys, win prizes, and find out more about the telephone workshops at the Invisible Illness Week web site: www.invisibleillness.com .
