The Invisible Resistance Theory: An Illustration Exploring Unseen Health Issues

I’ve often tried to explain to a friend, family member or co-worker why I can’t do all the things I used to do – all the things that most normal healthy people can do.  I probably try too hard to explain that actually, most of them are a pretty understanding bunch. 

I, like many others, have what I call an “Invisible Disease” which in turn causes all kinds of “invisible resistance” that healthy people normally do not experience. 

For me this invisible illness takes the form of depression and severe OCD. For others it could be any number of things – from the mental ( as I have mentioned) to the physical ( Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme Disease etc..) to the emotional ( i.e. having experienced severe abuse) and even to the spiritual ( As a Christian I believe in such a thing as spiritual warfare – good vs evil, a real and powerful spiritual enemy of humanity…). For people suffering with these things, it is not time that they do not have enough of ,  it is energy -  Physical, psychological or otherwise.

As I said at the outset of the blog, I’ve often tried to explain the invisible, not always with success. Not long ago I came across a brilliant illustration by Christine Miserandino on her blog “butyoudontlooksick.com” . She refers to this illustration as  “The Spoon Theory”. She writes

" As I went to take some of my medicine with a snack as I usually did, she (her roommate)  watched me with an awkward kind of stare, instead of continuing the conversation. She then asked me out of the blue what it felt like to have Lupus and be sick…. I started to ramble on about pills, and aches and pains, but she kept pursuing, and didn’t seem satisfied with my answers. I was a little surprised as being my roommate in college and friend for years; I thought she already knew the medical definition of Lupus. Then she looked at me with a face every sick person knows well, the face of pure curiosity about something no one healthy can truly understand. She asked what it felt like, not physically, but what it felt like to be me, to be sick.”

You can read more of the illustration she ended up giving here: The Spoon Theory

While I found the Spoon Theory to be excellent I’ve wondered about other illustrations – especially ones that may be more directed to men.  I have one here that I would like to share with you – it centres on the world of sports and athletics and  I think I will call it ‘The Invisible Resistance Theory” … or something like that.

In athletic training there is a growing use of ”resistance”  tools that provide additional resistance to or force against  the athlete in training. Some of these tools include speed parachutes (which you’ve probably seen on Nike and Reebok commercials)  and weighted clothing  from vests and backpacks to ankle and wrist weights.

In regards to “speed” or “running”  chutes , The Runner’s Guide describes them as such: 

“The excess fabric billowing behind the runner creates drag which makes the runner have to work harder to overcome this drag. This helps the runner to improve both his speed and his strength because the muscles are working hard to negate the resistance associated with the use of the running parachute.”

And howstuffworks.com adds:

“Speed chutes also afford runners a psychological edge. It's this extra mental resilience that shows when other runners tire out. When the winds gust against you while attacking the last big hill of the race, it's wind-resistance training like this that provides an extra edge.”

Wikipedia reports this about weighted clothing:

“Research demonstrates that using an overload during sprinting or speed drills requires lower-body muscles to generate more force against the ground which could lead to gains in strength and power and ultimately faster acceleration during running.

…..A standard form of military and fire fighter training is not only be able to carry a backpack, but to march and run with one loaded down with a concrete "marble". Part of SWAT training is to be able to do pull-ups wearing a heavy pack.”

So we can fairly easily grasp this concept of training and why it would prove beneficial in the official “race” or “game” when we are not held back by the extra resistance. That training now enables the athlete to  become faster, stronger,  more explosive and even more mentally strong.

But imagine this. It is the official sporting event but one of the athletes is forced to wear all of his resistance training tools.  He has a speed chute doing its best to create drag and his weighted clothing enhancing the power of gravity on his body.  If this athlete equalled the performance of his peer who had no resistance tools than we would say – “Amazing, that guy has overcome so many disadvantages and still performs so well”.  Even if the first athlete did not perform well we would all readily understand why and come to his defence as well as patting him on the back for the valiant effort.

But in order for this illustration to really work we must imagine one more thing – all of the resistance tools attached to this athlete are, in fact, invisible. They cannot, or will not, be seen by the crowd or his fellow athletes or even the officials of the competition.  He is not recognized for the extra effort he had to put in due to the disadvantages of the resistance tools and he receives no compassionate pat on the back. It is instead assumed that he is weak, lazy or maybe just a coward.

As the philosopher Albert Camus once wrote , “ Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.”

For someone who is relatively healthy and has never had a significant experience with this metaphorical  type of “invisible resistance” it can be very difficult to understand why another person seems so apparently “weak’ or “lazy” or “afraid”. For that matter, someone who has experienced one of these types of invisible resistance may find it hard to comprehend someone who is experiencing another kind.

It is so easy to judge; so inconvenient to take the time to educate ourselves on a given matter. But as one of the biblical proverbs reminds us:  “He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13

While some things can never be fully understood until we, or someone we love, goes through it personally, there are still ways to learn and react in a positive way. Taking the time to educate ourselves on the topic at hand, to read or listen to firsthand accounts of people who have dealt with the issue  - or even simply to hold our tongue for the time being and to always remember to be compassionate. 

In this particular illustration, let’s ask ourselves “Why did that athlete perform so poorly compared to the others?” “Was there something bothering him or holding him back that we may not be aware of?” 

In real life – let’s take the time to find out before we judge.  Let’s take the time to find out so that we may instil confidence and encourage the athlete for his valiant effort.