I was telling someone recently about the “spoons” metaphor. I guessed they probably hadn’t heard that before so before I said what I really wanted to say, I explained it. Basically, it means “unit of energy” and the idea is that we each have a different number of units each day depending on our ability / health.

In the time that it took to explain that, I could have just said what I needed to. How did it become so popular? The spoon doesn’t even symbolise anything itself. So while I think it made a good visual demo when the first person presented it, I think it lands differently with people in conversation.

It is somehow reassuring to hear other people using it. It has shown me how many people struggle this way that I never realised before. But I think I’ll stick with “batteries” or something that’s easier to explain to people who aren’t in the loop.

Thoughts?

Edit: The metaphor was invented by Christine Miserandino to illustrate her experience of lupus to someone in a café. I assume the cutlery was the best illustration device to hand in that situation and quite effective.

  • FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    3·
    10 days ago

    I agree with you - at least in my interpretation - that activities are implied to demand the same level of energy every time. The variability is accounted for by having a different number of “spoons” each day (unknown to us in advance).

    I like the gas in the tank metaphor, although it’s used so often in association with healthy fatigue that I’d be concerned that it might trivialise the degree of deep, all-encompassing exhaustion I’m really talking about. A new vocabulary is probably ideal for the uniquely surreal experience that is M.E./C.F.S.