Metaphors Help Others Understand Illness

​USING METAPHOR

It was perfect timing. I was snuggled up with my cat and a cup of tea when my dear friend called for a video chat. We had some fun catching up, and then she said, “It’s so hard to explain how tired I get to others. I need days to recover after…, but I know you understand.” She was aware that I, too, needed recovery time. I have also found it hard to explain to others. Often, I’ve given up trying. How about you?

It is a relief to share with people who understand—but what about those who don’t share our journey? They also want to understand, but explaining how we truly feel can be challenging.

The Bible is full of metaphors that help us better understand truths [e.g., Jesus as a shepherd (Psalm 23:1) or Jesus as the bread of life (John 6:35)]. As Christians, we often use metaphors to talk about our life with Christ. In my devotional book (Searching for Sea Glass), I compared sea glass to my journey with chronic illnesses. This metaphor has helped me journey with a renewed perspective on my illness.

What if we could use metaphors to help others understand how we truly feel—to help describe things like pain or fatigue?

A METAPHOR FOR FATIGUE 

Even as I type, fatigue is hitting me. Everyone gets tired, but how can I explain my fatigue? Is there a metaphor I could use that others would grasp? Maybe it’s the tightrope walk of doing too much or too little. Perhaps it’s similar to a gas gauge on a car. Would jet lag describe it?

Do other metaphors come to mind for you? Do you think others would relate to them?

As I reflect, the best metaphor I can think of for my fatigue is comparing it to a faulty phone battery. Even though the phone is plugged in all night, you don’t know how long the charge will last during the day. Like the phone battery, I’m never quite sure how charged my battery will be or how quickly it will drain.

METAPHOR HELPS ME COMMUNICATE WITH CONFIDENCE

Having the phone battery metaphor quickly available gives me the confidence to explain fatigue to others who want to understand and journey beside me. What a gift it is to know how to communicate with others effectively!

If you have found a metaphor that describes your feelings, attitude, or challenges well, why not share it in the comments below? Maybe someone else will benefit from your experience.

Thank you to Chronic Joy for their Metaphor printable, which is assisting me as I continue to find better ways to share my journey with others.

PRAYER

Father, even when we feel alone on our journey with chronic illness, You bring others alongside us. Help us communicate clearly with them and explain how we are feeling. Give us words when we feel at a loss—and as others listen to us, may we listen to them as they describe their journeys. In Jesus’ name, amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 

1. Have you ever struggled to explain your feelings to others?
2. Do you see how using a metaphor might help others understand you better?
3. What part of your journey would you like others to appreciate? Why not start there?

AN INVITATION

We invite you to check out our Metaphor – The Language of Pain printable, which explains metaphor and offers many tips for getting started.