Confronting the Invisible | Olivia Larner | TEDxFurmanU

When you look at me what do you see? Join Olivia as she explains her journey of having chronic illnesses. Olivia contextualizes her experience through spoon theory. Join Olivia to find out how you should respond to someone who has a chronic illness. Olivia Larner is a junior at Furman University from Peachtree Corners, Georgia. On campus, she is a Neuroscience major and a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. In her free time, she can also be frequently seen dancing. Outside of Furman’s campus, Olivia is very passionate about supporting people with developmental disabilities and/or invisible illnesses. She is currently a SC LEND trainee, which provides interdisciplinary training to improve the health of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, and previously interned with the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta. As someone who suffers from chronic illnesses herself, she will be talking about her personal experiences and the “Spoon Theory.” Through this talk, she hopes to raise awareness and promote understanding. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@ronyalemerrill]

I’m a spoonie! Thank you for speaking up, for us!

[@bonanahh]

The meticulous planning of every single action solely to optimize the energy usage to have more for later feels like it takes up a spoon all on its own 🥄 😥 Our brains work far too hard on other stuff to be able to manage everyday tasks reasonably. Ugh...

[@lilaclita9612]

completely agree. I'd say 2 spoons.

[@_JustJoe]

Yep, a spoon just for planning, maybe even 2 on bad days for me.

[@krisgraves7018]

Thanks for sharing. I use the spoon theory to explain my mental health struggles

[@avanzero]

Fellow Spoony here! Wonderful talk, thank you 💙

[@seachingona]

This got me in tears. Thanks, fellow spoonie, for putting this message into words that make it much easier to convey

[@kennaortega3708]

This made me cry with joy... Having those around me understand that I deal with my illness everyday makes all the difference in the world for my life... The last third of this talk hits on the most critical element... Please listen to this short talk if you have anyone in your life who has a chronic invisible illness... Mine is mastocytosis btw... Thank you!

[@shannonspoelman4139]

This is so helpful, coming from a 24 year old that got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on college. Thank you!

[@Jazzyjen1997]

Hey, I’m 23 and I have fibromyalgia too. I’m here if you want to talk. 💙

[@_JustJoe]

16 with it, stay strong spoonie sister

[@ember-brandt]

I got hit with fibromyalgia at 25, a year after after PTSD hit me. I'm 35 now. While I still have chronic pain and doubt it will ever entirely go away, managing my stress levels has helped with the pain A LOT. Stay strong, spoonies 💜🥄

[@ColombianaMama]

Crying🫶🏽❤️🙏🏽 Yes as A spoonie I have felt with discrimination with family friends work and it’s so hard to deal with silently and alone in isolation with no support 😢 She Nailed this 💪🏽💪🏽🫶🏽🙏🏽

[@glaubhafieber]

To surround myself with people who don’t rob my spoons only needed me to move to the other side of the planet. But really. South east asians might not understand spoon theory or offer to buy spoons for you, but they usually just leave you alone when they see that you have not enough energy. They just accept that i forget their names or come late. They seem to feel you

[@rozemarijnrose8031]

A spoonie, thanks for this talk !

[@elizabethdarley8646]

Yep, I have this too. Today, my GP told me about the Spoon Theory.

[@karengerber8390]

Thank you for the directions to help make conversations possible!

[@amandagriffin1374]

Thank you for sharing your story :)

[@InsomniaDoodles]

Absolutely wonderful talk, thank you!

[@MarkGunnells]

Inspiring.

[@detroit-duchess]

Thank you ❤

[@ckeilah]

Not all of us are DIAGNOSED, so the normies REALLY have ZERO compassion for us. 😭

[@vi4670]

Yeah you're absolutely right

[@_JustJoe]

So real

[@dudeaciousmonstrosity7650]

I am late with this, as I just arrived. I admit I am a normie, but I do feel and have compassion for you and others with limited spoons. I wish I could help you. I don't need to know someone to care about them. And I do care about you.

[@threeworld]

I wonder if dry fasting and cold therapy would help

[@pinkyhotmessx69]

Don't you just love the medical advice lol Even from some Drs even tho they have your chart and you've done everything short of rubbing dog poop on you if someone said it worked lol

[@_JustJoe]

LMAO so true

[@_JustJoe]

You're beautiful btw :D

[@AeraYoo]

As a spoonie I’m okay with people not really understanding. Long as my husband helps me I’m okay. I don’t expect anyone else to really notice or care. 😅

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Spoon theory is helpful. Being labeled a “spoonie?” Erm, not for everyone… Cheers all.