Understanding the Spoon Theory

When people can’t see evident proof of illness, they doubt pain and experience. This is the everyday life of a chronic illness sufferer — not being understood.

This is where to spoon theory comes in — ever heard of it? It was created as a way to explain what it’s like to have a chronic illness in a way that people can easily understand.

Using spoons to represent energy, the spoon theory demonstrates how each task you complete in a day “costs” a certain amount of spoons. Once you’re out of spoons, you have no more energy left for the day — a problem most healthy people do not have.

Continue reading below to learn more about the spoon theory and ways you can connect to fellow chronic illness sufferers.