What is the Spoonie Theory or the Spoon Theory?

I’ve heard of the spoonie theory or the spoon theory. But what is it?

Actually, it’s the spoon theory and spoonies are people with chronic illnesses. I’ve learned what it means when people refer to spoons and chronic illness and apply it in my life with migraine.

What is the Spoon Theory? 

The spoon theory is written by Christine Miserandino  It started with a conversation she had with a friend about being chronically ill.  It applies to so many different types of people and has become common verbiage as us “spoonies” go through life.  The conversation was how more “abled” people get an endless number of spoons or an abundance of them each day.  As a spoonie, we are only given a few and/or use ours more quickly.

Each person has a set number of spoons.  Each event in life requires spoons.  Getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, going to the bathroom, washing hands, brushing teeth, putting on deodorant, putting on makeup, and so on.  Imagine, this is only the first 5 minutes of a day and some spoonies may already have used up their supply. 

What is a Spoonie?

A person is given spoons which reflect their energy.  Every event is thoroughly thought through on how and where to use spoons.  While getting out of bed may use up one spoon for a “normal” person, it takes 3 for me.  While buttoning a shirt may not even take a spoon from you, a person with arthritis may use 4.

Each person gets a different amount, uses a different amount, and requires a different amount for each task.  The whole point of the spoon theory is that people who are chronically sick have fewer spoons, use them more quickly and run out fast!  Some days I feel like I’ve used my spoons by 10:00 am and still have a long day ahead of me.  On those days I feel like I steal spoons from my next day leaving myself more depleted than the day before.  This borrowing makes me exhausted,  worn down, and triggers a migraine.

Counting my Spoons

The only way I can recoup spoons for my next day is by using fewer spoons in a day and resting.  This is often seen as lazy  and that drives me crazy.  My resting is saving spoons and allows me to use them later.  And let’s be honest, I don’t get a chance to rest that often therefore I’m not saving much. I’m not lazy, I’m building and saving my supply. 

Pacing my Spoons 

So how do I deal with having a handful of spoons in a world that requires thousands?  I rest, I pace myself, I prepare, and I plan.  My husband used to get up for work and leave.  Now I have asked him to get the kids out of bed and start them on breakfast.  This takes him 5 minutes of his day before he heads out the door but saves me a few precious spoons.  If I am able to sit and drink a cup of coffee without bouncing back and forth from the refrigerator a few times, I save spoons I need for the dreaded battle of getting dressed and out of the house with two small children.

Spoon Theory and Chronic Pain

Some days I’m straight outta spoons. At the end of the day, I ask him to help with bath time.  Bath time uses way more spoons than I have in the evenings.  I am low or out of spoons, plus a loud bathroom, cranky kids, and no spoons to use seems near impossible.  Drying off, lotion, brush teeth, potty, read books, hugs and kisses (I always have spoons for those), and more.  The last hour before my children’s bedtime is by far the toughest time of my day depleting any supply of spoons I have rationed for my day!

I do small things each day to help conserve spoons and help for the next day.  It’s all about pacing myself and preparing for how I’m going to use each spoon.  It sounds crazy, but that’s the life of a spoonie.

How do you spend your spoons? 

How do you save your spoons and when?