Dear Louise:

A general type of advice, one that will fit your share as well as any other, is in the Serenity Prayer, this part: “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.

You shared that you have been ill since your early 20s, 12 years going, and you are now in your mid 30s. I understand that your illness limits your ability to walk (your are housebound, and you mentioned a wheelchair on another thread). You can read and write only for short period of times.

You wrote: “I feel like time and the world is passing me by whilst everyone else I know is out living, working, travelling, socializing, raising a family”- –

There are plenty of people who are not working, traveling, socializing or raising a family. There are people who suffer from your particular illness or from illnesses similar to yours, young people like you.

Perhaps one way to go is to get to know people who share your struggles, listen to how they live their lives?

anita