‘Am I disabled today?’ How Erika finds strength and compassion by embracing her disabilities

Some days Erika England can move houses, other days she can’t move from the couch. She writes about how she lives with her fluctuating conditions.

As I enter my sister’s house, a cloud of shame hangs over my head.

It feels like forever since I’ve last visited and I’ve missed her terribly. Happy to see me, she acts like no time has passed. She is perfect — immediately offers me the most comfortable chair and a hot water bottle for my pain.

I feel like a fraud for blaming my absence on my health.

Did I look too perky on social media recently? Do I look like I’m flaunting my medication when I take it at the dinner table?

As the minutes pass, I grow fatigued. I’d metaphorically scream my love for my family from my rooftops, but I can barely…