YES THIS. Argh, people who assume chronic illness and chronic pain are fake/chosen and the solution is exercise and a positive attitude. *rage* Maybe she has "some depression" not because she's perversely making herself miserable, but because she's IN PAIN?
Also, these lines struck me:
You can't have a conversation with her without the topic turning to her various maladies.
Possibly the fact that LW keeps invalidating her is causing her to reassert the reality of her health problems every time they speak, in reaction to constant pressure to exercise and live right by LW's standards? (Been there, done that. I have relatives who probably think that I don't talk about anything but health problems. This is an observer effect.)
Also possibly LW has never troubled herself to learn that standard small talk like "how have you been?" is not much fun for chronic pain/chronic illness sufferers, and despite calling MIL a "wonderful woman" LW doesn't know or care what else she might be interested in talking about.
no subject
Also, these lines struck me:
You can't have a conversation with her without the topic turning to her various maladies.
Possibly the fact that LW keeps invalidating her is causing her to reassert the reality of her health problems every time they speak, in reaction to constant pressure to exercise and live right by LW's standards? (Been there, done that. I have relatives who probably think that I don't talk about anything but health problems. This is an observer effect.)
Also possibly LW has never troubled herself to learn that standard small talk like "how have you been?" is not much fun for chronic pain/chronic illness sufferers, and despite calling MIL a "wonderful woman" LW doesn't know or care what else she might be interested in talking about.