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. The chronic fatigue syndrome community has adopted the terminology used in the Spoon theory to explain their limited fatigue to healthy people.



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".

Articles

 * 2013, Reclaiming ‘Chronic Illness’: An introduction to the Chronic Illness Inclusion Projecthttps://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/617/reclaiming-chronic-illness.pdf - 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