What Is A Spoonie? Here Is The Answer

If you’ve never heard the term “spoonie” before, you might be wondering what it means. The short answer is it’s a term used by people who live with chronic illness, disability, or mental health conditions to describe their experience of fluctuating and limited daily energy due to health issues.

For spoonies, simply existing is more exhausting than for someone who is healthy and not a spoonie. Many experience pain, fatigue, brain fog, malaise, or other symptoms, that cause limitations and unique challenges. Anyone can be a spoonie, young, old, male, female, or anything in between. The majority of illnesses are invisible, so you can never tell just by looking at someone.

The term “spoonie” was coined by chronic illness blogger with lupus Christine Miserandino and comes from the metaphorical idea that people with chronic conditions start each day with a limited number of “spoons” that represent their energy and ability to function. Spoons are simply used as an example of a unit of measurement. These spoons can be used up quickly by activities that healthy people have no problem completing and might take for granted, like showering, cooking a meal, or running errands. Once the spoons are gone, it can be difficult or even impossible to complete tasks, and pushing past those limits leads to worsening fatigue, pain, and other symptoms.

Living as a spoonie can be challenging, because we live with a variety of conditions, such as autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, and disabilities that affect mobility, vision, or hearing. Everyday activities that many people take for granted can become a struggle. For example, going to work or school, socializing with friends, or even just getting dressed in the morning can require a lot of energy and planning.

We don’t know how many spoons we will have each day, or how many each task will take, but we do have a general idea. It’s like being given an opaque bag of spoons every day. We can feel if the bag is heavier or lighter, but we can’t see inside to know exactly how many there really are.

Despite the challenges, many spoonies are resilient and find ways to adapt to their conditions. They develop coping strategies, like modifying tasks, seeking out supportive communities online or in person, and advocating for themselves and others with chronic conditions. By recognizing the challenges faced by spoonies we can work towards creating a more inclusive and understanding society, where everyone has the opportunity to live a full and meaningful life, regardless of their health status.

If you or someone you know identifies as a spoonie, it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing chronic illness or disability, and what works for one person may not work for another. Through trial and error, and good communication, you can figure out what works for you.