6 ways spoon theory is important in the struggle with chronic illness

One tool people use to explain life with chronic illness is called The Spoon Theory.  The Spoon Theory basically says that a person with a chronic illness only has so many spoons available to them, and the number changes from day to day. Once you use a spoon, it’s gone and there’s nothing you can do to bring it back. When you’re sick everything you do involves making a series of choices, and you have to rank things in a way that healthy people don’t have to. Your illness is always on your mind, and you can rarely relax and forget about it. So here are six things to remember when it comes to the spoon theory and chronic illness.

The Spoon Theory and Chronic Illness

1. You always have regrets.

I mean, you can’t just use however many spoons you want to use, and then have no regrets later. Trust me, you’ll always regret it.

2. Pacing is important

I always make responsible decisions and make sure to take care of myself. Pacing is my number one priority and I make sure never to throw pacing out the window and do what I want. I never ever tell my body to chill and push it way beyond its limits. I promise.

This is what my body does to me after I foolishly use all my spoons. I mean, what was I thinking? I know better, but I keep repeating myself over and over again.

3. Remember to save spoons

Sometimes I actually remember to save some spoons when I desperately need them. Those times are cause for celebration, in which I use more spoons, and then I’m short on spoons again. Oh the tangled webs we weave. You’d think this would get easier over time, but it doesn’t.

4. Sometimes you have to waste spoons

My favorite way to waste spoons is at the doctor’s office. Sure, it’s an entertaining place, but it takes my whole day. Plus when you’re sick, the last place you want to go is the doctor. I mean, then you have to be around other sick people. Plus you really just want to stay in bed and watch Veronica Mars and the Great British Baking show until you fall asleep (yes, I have a weakness for those shows, I admit it. It’s possible I’ve watched the Great British Baking show three times all the way through.) Is that too much to ask?

Then I let energy vampires take my spoons when I actually have them. The line of people who want something from me always comes out.

5. Some people think spoons aren’t really a thing

When I get in an argument with a healthy person who thinks that spoons aren’t actually a thing. Sometimes it’s a doctor, sometimes it’s a family member, sometimes it’s an ignorant acquaintance, and sometimes it’s a friend. If only healthy people could be in our bodies for just a few minutes, they’d be a lot more understanding.

6. Occasionally you have more spoons than usual

Sometimes I randomly have a crazy amount of spoons and I just can’t help but spend them. I’m so happy to finally have some energy that I run around getting everything done I’ve been putting off.

Overall living with a chronic illness is complicated, and the Spoon Theory is one way to explain it. There are plenty of critiques of Spoon Theory, but in general, it’s an accurate portrayal of life with chronic illness.