Do you feel guilty when you rest?

Hey everyone, how are you feeling today?

Living with a chronic illness often means navigating fatigue, flare-ups, and invisible symptoms, but when we do pause to rest or slow down, it’s not always as simple as just “taking a break.”

There’s often a deeper emotional weight behind it. Guilt.

Guilt for not doing more. For cancelling plans. For lying down when others are up and active. For not looking sick enough to “justify” the rest.

🔁 This is sometimes called rest guilt, that nagging voice that says “you should be doing something,” even when you’re at your limit.

But why does this happen?

💭 For many of us, it’s rooted in how we were raised, the pressure to be productive, or cultural beliefs that equate rest with laziness.

📱 And on top of that, social media can make rest feel like falling behind in a world that’s always hustling.

🌱 But here’s the truth: Rest isn’t lazy. It’s a vital part of living well with chronic illness. It helps your body recover and protects your mental health. And it’s a way of respecting your limits.

🗨️ Let’s unpack this together:

• Do you ever feel guilty for resting, even when you know you need it?
• Where do you think that guilt comes from?
• What has helped you unlearn it, or what are you still figuring out?

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Your experiences matter, and someone else here might be feeling the exact same way today. You are not alone. 💙

Take care,
Somya from the Carenity team 🌼