My reflections on acceptance, resignation and advocacy following episode 8

Acceptance gets treated like a dirty word in chronic illness. So does resignation, but for the opposite reason  we barely talk about it at all.This is my reflection following the episode with Matt Castelluccio and Jane Werbicky from United Spinal Association, where we explored what it actually takes to keep going when the systems around you weren't built with you in mind.I sit with the distinction between acceptance and resignation, why they can look identical from the outside, and why resignation isn't poor coping, it's a natural, protective response to feeling like control has been taken away. I also reflect on what Matt shared about the power of one question from his urologist, "what's not working for you?", and what that tells us about what collaborative care could look like, even within short appointment times.If you haven't yet listened to the episode with Matt and Jane, you can find it in the show notes. I hope this reflection gives you something to sit with.This conversation connects closely with the work I'm doing with Convatec Continence Care and their Me+ programme, which supports people using intermittent catheters with both practical guidance and emotional wellbeing resources. Find out more at: www.howwereallyfeel.com/in-partnership-with-convatecShow notes, resources and references: https://www.howwereallyfeel.com/acceptance-advocacy-bladder-care