Boy, do I ever know where you are coming from, Kriss !
My family have got the picture now, but most of them simply used to think of me as just not bothering. In the end I had to almost literally spell it out for them - what I felt when I tried to do things, both physically and emotionally, how frustrating it was to fail at things that seem so minor but turn from molehills into mountains (and actually letting them see you express frustration really seems to make a big shift in attitude there), and just generally letting them know that I hadn't suddenly stopped wanting to do things, it was that I suddenly was not able.
Of course anyone who cares about
you doesn't like to think of this option, and they really don't know what the view from inside your gilded cage is like, so you have to graphically show them the downside for them to lose their (for them) blissful ignorance.
Long term, having people around you on a day to day basis who know exactly how you feel and how you are trying to cope with it, makes a huge difference. You are closer to them (if they are understanding) and much less stressed as a result.
But you will always get the occasional friend who is stressed at work and thinking longingly of your "life of leisure", will make the odd comment that ties your guts in knots and leaves you with your teeth on edge, going, "grrr...." !
At which point, methinks, it is good for you and they to have a detailed comparison of what the definition of a "bad day" is. It's amazing how fast ideas readjust when blood and mucus get mentioned.
