Working with a Chronic Illness by Helen Cooke

Between the 9th and 15th May, people around the country are going blue for ME Awareness Week.

ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a condition that affects the lives of around 250,000 people in the UK. Invisible to the eye, ME is a debilitating condition, with sufferers experiencing unbearable aches and pains, extremely low energy, restless sleep, and “brain fog” (to name just a handful of symptoms). Education, employment and even interaction with friends and family can be extremely difficult, if not impossible to cope with. A quarter of ME sufferers are housebound or confined to bed for months or even years. There is currently no known cure.

Many students and graduates we talk to battle invisible conditions and disabilities that seriously impact their lives, with anxiety, fatigue and even depression resulting from the stresses and pressures of coping with their condition while studying or working.

But all is not lost.

Employers are becoming increasingly aware of the challenges faced by those with chronic conditions and we have two stories right here on the MyPlus Students’ Club site to encourage readers living with an invisible condition. Gabriella-Michela Ragno, a Group Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Enterprise Mobility, shares her experiences of graduating and transitioning into working life and Rachel Hallett discusses life as a Masters student with an invisible illness.

For more information about ME and to find useful resources, visit the ME Association website.