The holidays can be very difficult for people who suffer with chronic illness. We want to be like everyone else, and we can end up pushing ourselves to the point of making our conditions worse. And, a lot of us don't "look" sick, so our family and friends may expect us not to "act" sick. It's also really easy to get depressed when you want to be the "well" version of yourself (or the "you" you used to be).

Let's face it, this time of the year can be stressful and depressing for even the most healthy people. This fact hasn't gone unnoticed by BlogHers...Mata just wrote a post about...WHEN HOLIDAYS HURT, Amanda wrote...FOR SOME, NOT THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME, and Rita posted...IT'S THE HOLIDAYS, AND WE'RE ALL MISERABLE.

I thought I would see what other women are saying about coping with the holidays, while suffering with chronic illness. I know I find it very difficult...I am so happy that this year I am able to spend a quite Christmas at home with my kids and my mother.

Stacey Stone -- Surviving the Holidays with Chronic Illness

The holiday season can be difficult for everyone. It's no surprise that those of us with chronic illnesses may find the demands of shopping for gifts, spending large amounts of money, attending parties and family gatherings, and entertaining house guests stressful. There is good news, though. With a chronic illness, your holiday season can be great. Just take it easy on yourself, and follow these tips.

Fighting Fatigue -- Tips on How To Survive the Holidays with Chronic Illness

I used to dread the thought of Christmas because I always felt as though I had to do so many things because it is what is expected. I have learned how to enjoy the holidays since the birth of my son and I only do what I physically and mentally feel I can handle.

Somebody Heal Me -- The Musings of a Chronic Migrainer -- Surviving the Holidays

The holiday season can be a fun time of year filled with special events, family and friends and lots of great food. But it is also a minefield for headache and migraine sufferers.

We cope with pressure to attend social events, avoid trigger laden foods and drinks, choose and shop for gifts, irregular sleep patterns and the many other extra stresses that accompany the holidays. Not to mention the frustration that can result from the ways migraine disease often seems to make routine tasks more difficult or even impossible and our high unrealistic expectations for ourselves. All of this can make it hard to avoid ending up stuck in bed nursing a horrible migraine instead of enjoying time with your family and friends. The only good news is that you're not alone in dealing with these frustrations or in devising strategies for coping.

Chronic Chick Talk -- Lupus in the Holidays

The holidays are a rough time of year. The cold weather makes my lupus pain worse. We had our first snow the other day, and my bones ached so badly. I wonder sometimes how I’ve dealt with the years of lupus pain. The lupus pain is something I can’t runaway from. Lupus has its way of showing its evil head when you least expect it.

Also See:

S.A.D. -- By Denise

WebMD has a great article on Chronic Illness and the Holidays.

If you suffer with chronic illness...How are you coping with the holidays? Do you find it hard to meet the expectations of your family and friends? Do you have any tips you could offer others?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women