Summary of Sick Lessons Episode 4: Sue Jackson on Family, Connections & Slowing Down

00:00:00 - 00:35:00

In this video, Sue Jackson discusses how her chronic illness has led her to become a more compassionate and understanding person. She also talks about how her book, Finding a New Normal: Learning to Live with Chronic Illness for the People Who Don't Know Susan, is about this topic.

• 00:00:00 Sue Jackson shares that she became ill in 2002 with mecfs, an autoimmune disorder that typically manifests with an abrupt start and a high rate of bacterial infections. She also has chronic bronchitis, which is exacerbated by the Covid virus.
• 00:05:00 Sue Jackson discusses the lessons she has learned about life and health in general, and chronic illness in particular. She shares that one of the biggest lessons she has learned is about acceptance and how it is so important to find peace in acceptance of where you are today, even with chronic illness. She also shares that one of the ways she has slowed down in her life is by sticking to routines and by taking care of her physical and mental health.
• 00:10:00 Sue Jackson discusses her experience with chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease, discussing how her symptoms changed over time and how her sons' experiences differed. Sue emphasizes that chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex condition with many different symptoms and that it is important to seek treatment for all of the infections that may be involved.
• 00:15:00 In this video, Sue Jackson shares a story about her son, who was diagnosed with Lyme Disease when he was 10 years old. She shares that as he began to receive treatment for Lyme Disease, he also started to improve in other areas of his life, such as his schoolwork and band membership. However, after he contracted tick infections again, his health took a turn for the worse. Sue shares that she learned a lot from living with chronic illness, including the importance of connecting with others and accepting oneself. She also shares that her book, Finding a New Normal: Learning to Live with Chronic Illness for the People Who Don't Know Susan, is about this topic.
• 00:20:00 Sue Jackson discusses how her chronic illness has led to her becoming a more empathetic person, and how patience has become a key part of her life. She also talks about how her identity has evolved due to her illness, and how it's a "we don't have a choice" situation.
• 00:25:00 Sue Jackson discusses the difficulties of living with an invisible illness and how it has helped her to be more compassionate and understand other people's pain. She also discusses the importance of separating one's personal and chronic illness social media accounts and the difficulty of being understood.
• 00:30:00 Sue Jackson discusses the importance of nature in her life as a medical condition and as a way to heal and feel better. She describes how her medical conditions and limited mobility have affected her mental, physical, and emotional health, and how spending time in nature has been one of the life lessons that has helped her the most.
• 00:35:00 Sue Jackson, author of "Sue Jackson's Guide to Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A User's Manual," discusses her experiences with Lyme disease and its effects on her life. She recommends purchasing her book on Amazon, following her blog and social media accounts, and taking naps to help manage fatigue.