Understanding the Spoon Theory

If you’re active on the Internet, particularly in groups and forums regarding chronic illness, you’ve definitely noticed the term “spoonie” being thrown around.

MORE: The difficulty in having an invisible illness like lupus.

Spoonie is a term coined by a lupus blogger, who used spoons to demonstrate how much energy a person with a chronic illness has each day, and how much is used up doing simple tasks like washing or getting dressed.

In this video by Matt D’Amours, Rebecca (who has systemic lupus) explains how the autoimmune disease affects her and that along with the pain associated with lupus, she has to deal with chronic fatigue. The spoon theory demonstrates how lupus sufferers may need to ration out the energy they use to get through the day.

MORE: Lupus vlogger discusses her lack of energy.

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