In many discussions and comments on MyMigraineConnection, we've talked about how Migraine being an invisible illness can make things more difficult for us. Many of us also have comorbid conditions such as depression, thyroid disease, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, fibromyalgia, and others that are also invisible.

September 13-19, 2010, is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (NICIAW). This annual event, started in 2002 by Lisa Copen, features a variety of ways to get involved including a free virtual online conference going on all week with speakers each morning 10:30 – 12 USA Pacific time.

There is a Meme “30 Things You May Not Know About My Invisible Illness”, you can sign up to blog for the cause, read guest bloggers’ posts, and get involved in the campaign on Facebook. There is even a free 80-page ebook when you sign up for email updates, with 263 tips!

With nearly 50% of the population living with a chronic condition, about 96% of those people are suffering silently with invisible illnesses.

Here's a message about NICIAW from Lisa Copen:

Nancy wrote about one of her favorite awareness week activities in Migraines, Me, and Invisible Illness Awareness.

If you have a blog or a web site, I hope you'll remember what Lisa said about "Each one can reach one," and write about this awareness week.

For other activities and suggestions, here are some links for you:

• Tell someone!
  Do you want to email a family member, friend, pastor, counselor, support group leader, your favorite newsletter’s editor? Here is a short description of Invisible Illness Awareness Week – copy, paste, & share anywhere!
• If you have a blog:
  Do the awareness week meme: “30 Things You May Not Know About My Invisible Illness.” or blog about any invisible illness topic) and then sign up at Bloggers Unite so everyone can find your blog post at http://ow.ly/2D13m Be sure to grab the badge that you are participating too!
• Grab the button for your site:
  See bottom right side column with code at http://invisibleillnessweek.com
• Read about the panelists/special guests for the free online awareness week conference:
  See someone who you want to make sure your friends know about – be sure to let them know with an email and link to this page:
  http://invisibleillnessweek.com/2010/09/08/conf-workshops/
• Download a free 80-page ebook!
  20 Experts share their tips about living with a chronic illness. Just sign up for the daily updates from Invisible Illness Week at http://invisibleillnessweek.com (top right side of page), confirm “subscription”, and you will get the download link.
• To read blogs of others:
  Bloggers who have committed to blogging about invisible illness week or II topics are registered at Bloggers Unite, where you can get a description of their blogs too.
• Do you tweet? Here are some great things to retweet!
  http://invisibleillnessweektweets.wordpress.com
• Check out the photos of where people have left sticky-notes this year! http://invisibleillness.com (right column)
• If you're on Facebook:
  • Join the “Invisible Illness Week Cause”
  • Be a Fan! http://ow.ly/2D1I3
  • Click the “like” button on any of the web posts at http://InvisibleIllnessWeek.com
  • RSVP to the “event” http://ow.ly/2D1A5
  • Post this as your status so someone who is suffering silently knows someone cares!
    Nearly 1 in 2 people live w/ a chronic condition, most of them invisible. If it’s not you, it’s someone you love. In recognition of Invisible Illness Awareness Week, http://InvisibleIllnessWeek.com.

How often do we wish we could do something to make life easer for other people with Migraines? This awareness week gives us an opportunity to do just that, and in ways that will help people with all invisible illnesses. Lisa and her organization have done a wonderful job of putting together activities that are easy to do, things that most all of us can handle.