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.

How spoon theory works


Spoon theory is based on roughly having the same, limited amount of energy each day, and then making decisions about which activities to spend the limited chunks of energy on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-22972767 Each unit of energy is represented by a spoon, with healthy people having more spoons than those with an illness that causes chronic fatigue.

Example: 12 spoons per day
In the poster above, a person with 12 spoons per day could use them to: get up (1 spoon), get dressed (1 spoon), take medication (1 spoon), and drive (3 spoons) to work (4 spoons), which would be 11 spoons. They then would then have one remaining spoon, 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).

This careful planning would help avoid over-exertion, but would not be necessary for a healthy person, who may have 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, who is probably only able to work part-time (if at all).

Example: 4 spoons per day
A person with more severe chronic 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
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.

Being a spoonie
Some people with ME/CFS 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 fatigue or chronic illness, and as a simple method of pacing, which involves manage 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

Learn more

 * The spoon theory