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14 Struggles of College Students with Chronic Illness

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Gettysburg chapter.

1.  Actually needing sleep. 

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“No, I can’t actually pull an all-nighter on this paper.  I will not be able to function tomorrow.”  

2.  Explaining your ailments.

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“Why yes, I am too young to have so many issues.  And yet…here they are.”

3.  People who don’t understand. 

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“I’m sick again?  Why yes, that’s what ‘chronic’ means.”

4.  Having to cancel plans. 

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“I know we said we’d get dinner but I can’t leave bed right now.  Sorry.”

5.  Trying to stay caught up.

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“I’ve been having a flare for the past three days and my homework is piling up.  Better suffer through it.”

6.  Staying involved.  

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“I was sick the last time this club met and I’m sick now but I don’t want them to think I don’t want to be a part of the team….”

7.  Trying to save money.

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“Hmm, textbooks or medicine?”

8.  Attending class. 

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“Yes, professor, I know I’ve used my excused absences….”

9.  Guilt.

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“Why can’t I just be normal?”

10. Balancing doctors. 

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“I can’t go home all the time to see a doctor, better find one here.  Now, when am I going to find time to go to the doctor??”

11. Staying positive. 

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“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming….”

12.  Holding back the snark. 

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“Oh, you’re SO busy from partying all weekend.  I couldn’t move, so I know how it feels to need to catch up.”

13.  Loneliness. 

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“I can’t do what my friends are doing and they probably all hate me because of it.  Nobody gets it.”

14.  Finding motivation.  

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“Why bother trying?”

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You aren’t alone!  Find an empathetic friend, visit the counseling center, or check in with Advising.  Most importantly, stay strong!

Juliette Sebock, Founder: Jules founded the Gettysburg College chapter of Her Campus in Fall 2015 and served as Campus Correspondent until graduating in Spring 2018. Juliette graduated from Gettysburg College in 2018 with an English major and History/Civil War Era Studies/Public History triple minors. In addition to HC, she was a member of the Spring 2017 class of Advanced Studies in England and of various organizations including Eta Sigma Phi, Dance Ensemble, and Poetry Circle. She has published a poetry chapbook titled Mistakes Were Made, available on Amazon and Goodreads, and she has poems forthcoming in several literary magazines. She is also the editor-in-chief of Nightingale & Sparrow Magazine and runs the lifestyle blog, For the Sake of Good Taste. For more information, visit https://juliettesebock.com.