If you’ve ever had to explain your medical condition to a stranger, you’ve probably experienced the wide-eyed pity, the awkward silence, and the “Oh yeah, my cousin has that” comment. But the most frustrating experience of all may be when you patientlyexplain your condition to someone, and they immediately informyou您已经误会了，因为这种情况实际上不存在。严重地？

不管您的疾病如何，总会有人不相信它。从抑郁症主义者到纤维肌痛真理，再到那些认为您可以维生素C的人，您可以确定有一个主食批评家waiting to educate you on proper condition management.

此刻可能很难知道如何回应这些人。但是我去过那里，所以这里有一些（足够狡猾）的建议可以关闭不信者。

1.“我的病isn’t real？多么伟大的哲学！你们所有人都使用your问题，还是只是其他人的？”

2. “Thank you so much for sending me that article on why my illness isn’t real. I can’t wait to print it, fold it into a paper airplane, and send it right back to your face.”

3. “Thank you so much for recommending this miracle vitamin that you think will cure me! Let me return the favor. You have got to try this: Take an apple, stick as much of it as possible in your mouth, and then hold it there without speaking. I really think it will help you a lot.”

4. “Aw, dang, now I have to update my list of real versus not real things. Santa: not real. My condition: not real. Your medical degree … ?”

5. Adopt a mystical tone of voice and whisper gently in their ear: “It’s okay that you don’t believe in my illness.It believes in you。”

6. Yell down at your body: “DO YOU HEAR THAT, SYMPTOMS? YOU’RE NOT REAL!” Look back up. “Yeah, they beg to differ.”

7. Dissolve into wisps of smoke like a ghost, and before you dissipate, use your last breath to whisper, “At last! Someone had the courage to tell me my disease is not real, and now my spirit is finally free.”

8.“不是真实的，是吗？你知道，我曾经对口中疾病说同样的话，但后来我遇到了你。”

9. “I know that you think you’re being helpful by suggesting all I need to do is drink water and exercise. But here’s the thing, there’s a fine line betweenhelping和责备, and that line is: did I ask for it? It’s the difference between a search engine and a pop-up ad. Don’t be a pop-up ad.”

10. “Ooh, are we just picking things we don’t like and saying they’re not real? Cool! I pick you!”

之后，花一天的时间无视他们。如果他们抗议，请大声宣布您将重击多种维生素，直到他们消失为止。

Remember, it’s not anyone else’s business what you do or don’t experience with chronic illness. It’s especially not their place to tell you that your chronic illness isn’t real. While it’s easy to let those naysayers get under your skin, you can brush them off with a little dose of their own medicine. And remind them that until they walk a mile in your shoes, they can leave their comments at the door, thanks very much.

Elaine Atwell is an author, critic, and founder of飞镖. Her work has been featured on Vice, The Toast, and numerous other outlets. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.