Stop pushing me!

When will you stop hurting me?
You've already taken everything I have,
and yet you are not satisfied.
You took my friends
You took my family
You took my social life
You took my job
You left me with memories,
that are now so distant they're more like dreams.
You depress me
You hurt me
You cause me so much pain that I cannot stand the touch of a loved one
You push every limit I thought I had,
make me question everything I thought I knew about myself.
And still you push more.
You affect my heart
You starve me of oxygen
You make every nerve feel like it's on fire
or stop me feeling anything at all
How can anyone live like this?
You take away light
and sound
and touch
You give nothing
Leave me with nothing
And still you push further.

Letter to non sufferers

I would like to share with you a poem written by The Morbid One. She likens M.E. to living with an abusive partner. I've had this tab open for weeks, because I knew I wanted to share it, but every time I read it I burst into tears (due to everything I recently went through). It's an amazing poem, and I do hope it helps others to understand, as it is so true.

He tells me what I spend my day doing.
He makes me cancel on friends, and cancel appointments.
He decides whether I can read a book, or listen to music.
He gives me false hope; lets me think that I can achieve an unprecedented step forward, then pulls me back down to his level.
He tells me what I can eat and drink.
He’s indecisive, sometimes he lets me do something then changes his mind midway.
He plays tricks on me, and punishes me when I read his mood incorrectly.
He makes me feel sick in the same day that he let me be happy.
He makes me feel weak when inside I know I’m strong.
He controls how long I sleep, or if I’m allowed to sleep at all.
He makes me feel pain for no reason.
He makes me afraid of what will happen if I defy him.
He knows I dream of leaving him, and reminds me that I’m foolish for doing so.