I understand you lost a close friend due to your medical diagnoses'. I am sorry & know that hurts very deeply. I too have had friends/family members not grasp the full medical conditions I encounter & therefore think your exaggerating, that it's make believe medical conditions or just feeling sorry for ourselves. We all look ok, right?😉
The truth of this matter is that if you lose people you care about through this, then they really never knew you at all. Most of my friends got to see me before I began not feeling well. They saw how I acted, spoke, recalled memory, handeled stress, multi tasked, etc. If your friends talk behind your back, belittle you, lie about you or leave you, then let them go. It is Gods way of setting you up for deeper friendships ahead & to embrace the great ones you have. It will take time until the hurt goes away, but you deserve better & need to have friendships you cherish. God bless & be w you. We are on here for you, anytime❤

I'm the same. I feel so isolated and hurt even my own children and husband don't seem to have any time for me nowadays even when I'm trying my hardest to be more sociable with them and be a normal mum and wife. They laugh or get annoyed when I'm having a foggy day and my mind goes blank mid sentence or I can't remember the correct word to describe something. I tend to just go back upstairs into my sanctuary (my bed) and make do with the TV for company or lose myself in a book or game. I've no fight left in me so I just retreat away from everyone.
My sister is the only one who tries to understand how I feel. Usually we just talk on the phone but it helps a lot knowing that she gets me. I hate the isolation this illness causes, it's soul destroying. I'd luv to just get up and go out whenever I want to but no matter how hard I try or how positive I am the fibro dictates when I can participate in life and most of my plans go out the window!!!
So I've decided to try and find new friends, fibro friends who know what our struggles and limitations are because to some degree we're all facing the same difficulties and we need a wee lift to lighten our spirits and a wee push to keep us going, don't we?
Here's to inner strength!!!
Sending gentle hugs out to all that need one right now 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

We all need each other.

I too have lost friends and family because of this diagnosis. My 17 year old son is now living with his dad because he learned how to manipulate me because of my anxiety and became disrespectful. My 14 year old is still living with me. I have made terrible life choices in the past because of my BiPolar and anxiety along with the fear that I could not live alone due to the Fibro, THe last 5 years as a single mother taught me that I can do things on my own. I am so glad that I had that time to learn about myself. I had a therapy counselor, a case manager and a PsychoSocial Rehabilitation worker during this time. I learned that I didn't have to do everything at once. I learned to let go of things like house cleaning until I felt up to it. THen to do it in 15 minute spurts so I did not tire myself out. I learned to take my boys shopping at Costco with me once or twice a month and get foods that I could prepare within 15 minutes or less of prep time. At the time I had a wonderful church group that supported me because I was going to college at the time. Now that I have my degree my pain and anxiety has gotten so bad that I have applied for SSI. I met, quite by accident, a man who loves me, respects me and is caring and kind to me. I am no longer going to church, but I have a social group that my partner and I are involved in. They are a great support. I think the very real thing is to work on your self and don't become a hermit. It is easy to do, but don't let the disease get the better of you. Even if you have a craft group you attend once a month you keep up with that. Then adopt a couple of friends to text once or twice a week to check on them. Ask how they are doing. These things get your mind off of yourself and into service mode, but a small enough service to keep up with. You will find after a few months that you may be able to expand a bit, but whatever you do don't over do. Take good care of self.

So sorry to hear, but I totally understand. I "lost" my oldest child and only son to depression, yes he did kill himself. I remember what a happy little boy he was! We were always close (all of my children and me) although having times of great depression myself I totally understand exactly how he felt and why he did what he did-he was in so much pain whether it be emotional and/or physical (or both) I understood. My son was always there for me, thru my divorce from my children's father, my marriage to my wonderful husband now--he used to tell me (every time my husband had to go out of town for any reason) "Mom I'll never leave you" we were friends, he told me he liked me. I needed that I leaned on him (more than likely too much, because when he was gone I had to find a whole new path through life} The relationship between my husband and I became stronger as well as my relationship to God (who carried me in the palm of his hand for the first year of my son's absence - which was a blur) I didn't even begin the healing process till the second year. Now it has been 10 years and I can finally talk and think about him and the entire experience and not crumble into a wet sobbing ball on the floor--I was a mess! There is a way thru, look up and your creator who knows the number of hairs on your head & and feeds the little birds (who do not think of who provides their meals will bear you up and take you by the hand and lead you to the other side of your sorrow) You might even feel the spirit of your dear friend assisting you as well. God bless and keep you always.