being you absent from the physical or mental disabilities that you live wit

Hi,I am so new at this but hope that I can inspire just one woman to love herself more.I have bi-polar and fibromyalgia.Ok.Stated like that you first see me as those two illnesses.Which is how Doctors and sometimes our families see us. To be honest sometimes that is how we see ourselves.
Let's start over.Hi I am Karen.I am 45 years old.I live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA.I have an outstanding son,Matt.He's 23 and is finishing up his last two years of college in integrated science and technology.He brings such joy to my life.
Thirteen years ago,I found out I have fibromyalgia.I cause wide spread pain and a chronic fatigue.Then ten years ago I discovered I had bi-polar.After five years of severe suicide attempts,the last seven years it has been under control with medication.
But I decided to be known as Karen who just happens to have these illnesses rather than these illnesses who happen to be attached to Karen
You see that puts me back in control.That allows me and others to see the woman first.
So if you suffer from a chronic illness,set it aside for a moment.Understand who you are,your worth,you matter.You are special.So what if your sleep patterns are different than the families.So what if you aren't as active as you'd like to be.YOU ARE SPECIAL!! You matter.Now lets advace together and help each other be who and all we can be inspite of our daily challenge.
Lots of Love, Karensue