Spoon theory

The spoon theory is a way of describing the experience of chronic illness and its limitations using a metaphor. It was created by Christine Miserandino, who has lupus, an invisible illness which causes chronic fatigue, chronic pain and many other symptoms that limit her energy levels and ability to do everyday things.

How spoon theory works



 * A person has roughly the same amount of energy each day.
 * Each unit of energy is represented by a spoon.
 * Healthy people have more spoons (energy) than those with an illness that causes chronic fatigue.
 * Some activities cost more spoons than others.
 * A person with a fatiguing chronic illness needs to make decisions about which activities to spend their limited number of spoons (energy) on -- the illness stops them doing many things they want to do.
 * The chronic illness means that if the person does too much in the morning, they will not have enough spoons left for the afternoon or evening.
 * The chronic illness may mean that a person can do something in the morning OR on the afternoon - but NOT both. They may seem inconsistent because their energy levels and number of spoons fluctuate.
 * A healthy person does not need to plan how to spend their spoons, because they do not have an illness that limits them.

Example: 12 spoons per day
In the "Spoon Theory Poster" above, a person with 12 spoons per day could use them to: which would be 10 spoons. They would then have two remaining spoons, which would not be enough to cook a meal (3 spoons), visit the doctor (4 spoons), socialize (3 spoons) or do light housework (3 spoons). But they would have just enough energy to watch TV (1 spoon) or read (2 spoons). If they wanted to cook and eat a meal or socialize, they could plan those on days when they are not doing high energy or spoon-depleting activities, such as driving or working.
 * get up (1 spoon),
 * get dressed (1 spoon),
 * take medication (1 spoon),
 * and drive (3 spoons) to work,
 * work (4 spoons),

This careful planning is necessary for someone with a chronic illness to help avoid over-exertion, but is not necessary for a healthy person, who likely has enough spoons to do almost any combination of activities.

Example: a healthy person's day off work: 17 spoons
The person:
 * gets up and dresses (1 + 1 spoons)
 * has a shower (2 spoons)
 * styles their hair after the shower (2 spoons)
 * drives (3 spoons) to the supermarket
 * buys food (3 spoons)
 * cooks and eats a meal (3 spoons)
 * watches some TV (1 spoon)
 * then makes plans and socializes (3 spoons)

This is a total of 17 spoons. This might be a typical "relaxing" day for a healthy person, but is far beyond the capability of the person with only 12 spoons per day, who is probably only able to work part-time (if at all).

Example: 4 spoons per day
A person with more severe chronic pain/fatigue, but who still has more energy than those with very severe ME/CFS. This would be enough to: But it would be impossible for them to visit the doctor (4 spoons) because they would have to get up first (1 spoon) and get dressed (1 spoon). It would also be impossible to get up (1 spoon) and cook and eat a meal (3 spoons) if they also needed to take medication (1 spoon) or slept badly (1 less spoon then normal).
 * get up (1 spoon)
 * get dressed (1 spoon)
 * watch TV (1 spoon)

Visiting the doctor or cooking would be more than the energy available, leading to significant post-exertional malaise which could last days.

Spoon theory and ME/CFS
Spoon theory is a useful analogy to explain how people who have long-term chronic pain must live. Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome have adopted the terminology used in the spoon theory to explain their limited energy levels and the effects of their fatigue or other symptoms to healthy people.

ME/CFS is an invisible illness, and the level of fatigue can fluctuate during the day, often depending on how many spoons of energy have already been used that day. This makes it difficult for healthy people to understand, and some people may be judged as "lazy" for being unable to consistently do everyday activities, for instance being able to cook only on certain days or only once per day. There is no suggested guide for using spoon theory with ME/CFS and it may not represent the impact of all symptoms.

Similarly, those with chronic migraine and other chronic pain syndromes have found this analogy useful to explain to their friends, family, co-workers, teachers, and others, how their energy and capabilities are limited day-to-day, and how they must plan carefully to avoid running out of spoons before the end of the day.

Being a spoonie
Some people with ME/CFS, chronic migraine, or other chronic illness refer to themselves as spoonies, meaning people who have "a very limited units of energy that must be carefully rationed".

Pacing and spoon theory
Spoon theory can be used both to explain the limitations of chronic pain, fatigue, or illness, and as a simple method of pacing, which involves managing energy levels in order to prevent over-exertion.

Notable studies
No studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of using spoon theory either to explain the effects of a chronic illness, or as a method of pacing to help avoid the post-exertional malaise caused by over-exertion.

Articles

 * 2013, Reclaiming ‘Chronic Illness’: An introduction to the Chronic Illness Inclusion Project - Centre for Welfare Reform

Blogs

 * The Spoon Theory - Christine Miserandino
 * Explaining low stamina levels - with spoons - BBC news, Ouch blog
 * Spoon theory have people the wrong idea about chronic illness
 * Spoon Theory calculator game - Tumblr
 * Stop appropriating the language that describes my illness - Naomi Chainey, Sydney Morning Herald

Learn more

 * The Spoon Theory - Christine Miserandino