Hi Butternut,
Welcome to HW! I know exactly what you mean about
other people not understanding. We all do. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, CP is often an "invisible illness," and it is hard for others to understand, which of course is extremely frustrating for us CP patients! Thankfully, everyone here DOES understand. We all have different maladies, but the one thing that unites us all is constant, unrelenting pain. You don't need to have the exact same pain as someone else in order to be able to understand how it affects our lives. I hope that you'll be able to use this community to share with us the good, and the bad, and to receive support and feedback from our wonderful members!
Have you ever heard of the "Spoon Theory?" It was written by a patient with Lupus, but it essentially can be used by anyone with CP. If you are unfamiliar with it, you might want to read it, and then perhaps share it (or your own version) with family and friends. It might not make them understand completely, but with any luck, it will help.
here is a link to the Spoon Theory:
www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/Keep posting. You won't find a kinder, more supportive group of people anywhere!
Skeye