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Real Talk Tuesday: Unsolicited Advice
On Instagram, Iโve started a series called Real Talk Tuesday where we delve into the parts of CF (and life in general) that are sometimes difficult to talk about. Join the conversation on Instagram or here in the forum.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
“Try CBD oil. Stop taking those toxic medications. Push yourself a little more. Donโt push yourself too hard! Keto fixes everything. Have you tried meditation? Pray more. Take these vitamins. Drink more water! Have you considered an exorcism?”
Raise your hand if youโve heard these (or other) nuggets of wisdom from a well-meaning friend or a total stranger on the internet.
Receiving unsolicited health advice is a given when you have a chronic illness. We, as humans, have an innate desire to fix things. Unfortunately, that also applies to other humans that we assume are โbrokenโ and in need of aid.
Giving someone unsolicited health advice implies that you know more about their condition than they do, they havenโt done everything within their power to help themselves, and they arenโt capable of researching their options and making the best decision for themselves.
This is not to say that all advice is unwanted, because Iโve gotten some great advice regarding my health! The difference is โ sometimes itโs asked for and sometimes itโs aggressively thrown at me without any warning or desire on my part.
If someone wants advice regarding their health, I promise you, theyโll ask for it!
But if you absolutely must share your thoughts on something, there is a proper way to do it.ย For example, saying something like, โHey, If youโd like more info about ___, let me know,โ is so much better than, โYou MUST try ___. If you donโt, youโll be sick forever. Also, CF isnโt even a genetic disease, itโs a mineral deficiency.โ
(That last part is something Iโve actually been told.)
To you well-meaning friends who just want to help, I know your heart is in the right place. I do! But empathy and sincere questions from you feel so much better than trying to be fixed.
Friends with CF, how do you deal with unsolicited advice? Whatโs the weirdest advice youโve been given?
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