Spoon theory, what does it consist of?

The spoon theory is used as a metaphor for the energy rationing that characterizes people with chronic illnesses or psychological disorders. It is a neologism with which to demonstrate the physical, mental and emotional strength that remains in someone for whom things are much more difficult than the rest due to their state of health.

This approach is really interesting. The truth is that this added burden that the designated groups deal with is not always talked about. Thus, the person with fibromyalgia has great difficulty planning his days because he does not know how much energy he will have to work, go shopping, take care of his children, etc.

The same goes for the patient with depression or the child with autism. Every task often has a higher cost for someone living with a physical or mental health problem.. However, this is an often neglected or misunderstood reality. Because there is no shortage of people who call them weak or lazy.

What does the spoon theory tell us?

The term spoonie It is something that many people identify with. In fact, communities of men and women of all ages have been formed who seek to exchange experiences and also obtain social recognition. It was Christine Miserandino who formulated the theory of spoons in 2003. through an article he wrote on his personal blog But you don’t look sick.

She did it as a result of a personal experience, when a friend asked her what her life was like having lupus. To illustrate how he felt, he used some spoons to show him the amount of energy he had left for that day. What’s more, sometimes, to fulfill daily obligations she was forced to “borrow” future spoons.

Living with autoimmune diseases like lupus has this characteristic: not having enough energy for each activity you want to do. The same goes for any other chronic medical condition and, of course, psychological disorders. Each activity, task and obligation “costs” a certain number of spoons.

That energy is consumed very quickly and to recover it (to refill the spoons) the person must rest.

How to know if I am also a spoonie

In general, people have a good number of “energy sources” within their reach in everyday life. They get up and there is little doubt that they will be able to fulfill many of their daily obligations. They will be able to go to work, class, do housework, etc.

However, patients with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, lupus, kidney problems, cardiovascular problems, etc., are not certain that they will be able to fulfill all their obligations. Patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or even autism also live with the constant uncertainty of not knowing what they will be able to do each day. Not only do they suffer greater physical exhaustion, there is also discouragement, anguish, blocking stress, etc. On average, they also have serious problems sleeping and this makes it difficult to recover. energy.

Research work, such as that carried out at King’s College London, highlights an idea. It is common for patients with mental disorders to suffer from chronic fatigue or neurasthenia, which limits them in even more ways. The spoon theory tries to focus on what is almost never seen.

The theory of spoons, the need to become aware of something very general

We could give dozens of examples with all those profiles that shape and justify the spoon theory. Transgender people, for example, also show great daily exhaustion from living in a body and with a gender with which they do not identify.

Many children and adults who are on the autism spectrum are exhausted by sound and auditory stimuli that neurotypicals do not even perceive. There are patients with depression who do not have the energy to even get dressed. What this approach seeks is to become that tool that describes how this group feels. and what their lives are like.

The illness that each one deals with will determine the spoons of energy that will be consumed. It may be that just by getting out of bed, all of them are consumed, leaving no more energy left for the rest of the day. And this is something that we must all understand, without discriminating.

However, another notable fact occurs. The guilt associated with having a mental or chronic illness is an added burden. In this way, something that the spoon theory seeks is for the person to put that guilt aside and be able to better understand their own illness. Also, that she does not feel alone and can find and connect with others spoonies. Just search the hashtag #spoonieproblems.

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