>>they start making plans for my life, as if I can do those things and keep up with them.

People do that even for illnesses that are apparent. I have a friend with much worse arthritis than I, sometimes she can barely walk at all. Her friends have seen her this way. Then in a few hours they'll call and ask if she wants to take a trip to the mall or something. And when she explains that she can't, they cop an attitude, like she's using as an excuse to blow them off. It is like they see the arthritis but can "switch it off" when we want to do something.

It is so much harder with an "invisible" illnesses. In a way I was fortunate in that my depression corresponded with my arthritis. When the depression effects were hitting me the heaviest, everyone assumed I was suffering from the arthritis... having to leave work early, etc.

I am always annoyed at the assumptions that people make, for example with the handicapped parking. I am sure there are people who abuse that (people who are not disabled and use those spots) but for a stranger to make an assumption because of your illness doesn't involve a cane or a walker, well, people are just stupid. Tell them you are picking up someone who has to be able to walk from the store to the car if anyone bugs you, and you don't feel like explaining yourself.

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