Blogging for Awareness of Invisible Illness Week Unites Thousands
The statistics about the prevalence of chronic illness are stunning. Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA are living with a chronic illness and the U.S Census Bureau reports that about 96% of the illnesses are invisible. Hundreds of thousands of people on the Internet search for health information and support for their illness, so it’s no surprise that thousands of bloggers now post daily messages on their blogs about coping with the emotional challenges of living with constant chronic pain and illness.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008, is inviting these blogs to have a substantial role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach includes over thirty days of guest bloggers as well as bloggers across the internet posting about invisible illness matters. For example, if you have an invisible illness-and a legal handicapped parking placard-you’ve likely faced a few stares and questions if you park in the blue spot since your invisible illness does not require the use of a wheelchair.
Bloggers all over the world are joining the organizers of Invisible Illness Week to show their support through their blogs. A participation badge “I’m blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness Week” is available for download and bloggers are also publicly thanked each Friday on the Invisible Illness Week blog, getting the added benefit of extra exposure for their own blog. Bloggers are encouraged to post at any time, but the Invisible Illness Week committee is also asking them to post on September 8th to create awareness at 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 .
