Understanding the Spoon Theory

Explaining your condition has become almost a part of the territory of having a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When people can’t see visible evidence of a condition, they may doubt the pain and experiences you endure.

For Christine Miserandino, trying to explain her experiences with lupus to her friend drove her to come up with the now-famous explanation used by many people around the world — the spoon theory.

Using spoons to represent energy, she explained each activity she completes in a day “costs” a certain amount of spoons. She has a certain amount depending on the day, and once they run out she has no more energy left.

Chronic illness sufferers across the globe are now using her theory to help others better understand what they’re going through. Read on to learn more!