The Spoon Theory: Narcolepsy and Mental Health

The Spoon Theory (The Spoon Theory, 2003),  written by Christine Miserandino, was originally used as a way to explain how it feels to have Lupus. It has since been adapted as a way to explain numerous other "invisible" illnesses. 

This is used as a way to explain various chronic illnesses, including, but not limited to ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Narcolepsy, Lupus, Autism, and Fibromyalgia

It is, hands down, the best way I have found to explain my Narcolepsy symptoms. In fact, sometimes, I have to go back and re-explain it to myself. Sometimes, I think I'm too much of a Super Mom and I cannot be touched. Wrong! My Narcolepsy will knock me right back down if I do not listen.

So, people who have Narcolepsy (or any other chronic illness) start their day out with a limited number of spoons. The amount of spoons they begin with varies, based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

Spoon theory is a way to illustrate the energy limitations that can result from living with a chronic illness.

It also helps people coping with chronic illnesses visualize their total daily energy.

 For instance, imagine I spent over an hour fighting kids to get started on school work for the day, they argued more than usual or my brother stopped by for an hour or two (maybe all of these happened, maybe just one).

Now, imagine, it's 5 o'clock at night. I have not started dinner, the kids have not had baths, my husband just walked through the door, log hours have not been recorded for the day, and I never made it downstairs to start a load of laundry. 

There are still 5 more things on my to do list. Not to mention, whatever normal, chaotic things will definitely pop up before it is time to go to bed. I have already had a chaotic day, and don't have as many spoons left as I generally would say this time at night, so I'm going to opt to remove at least 3 of those items from my to do list. 

I have to remember, even though it is very difficult, that this does not make me lazy or less than. It actually makes me better. If I were to go ahead and push myself through all 5 of those items on the list...I would be borrowing spoons from tomorrow. I have to listen to my own body, otherwise, my body will fail me. For me, that could be life threatening, and at the very least it will set me up for failure tomorrow.