spoon theory explained: Dear fellow MS... - My MSAA Community

My MSAA Community

8,914 members20,600 posts

spoon theory explained

Sandydemop profile image
25 Replies

Dear fellow MS people,

i'm enclosing the original article about spoon theory. I have explained it to several people recently, as it makes sense to me because i am very concrete. I have limited energy units (spoons)

but sometimes i use more than I have causing a spoon deficit. To me that means I have to spend a long time recuperating from overdoing it. It would be great if everyone understood spoon theory so i could just say "I don't have the spoons for that." Today, it is about cleaning up the wet basement. i can do that or something i really want to do but not both.

cdn.totalcomputersusa.com/b...

Looking forward to your feedback.

Written by
Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
25 Replies
Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador

I completely understand about the limited energy Sandydemop ! I don't use the spoon theory myself. I just tell them, It's like this.. I can take a shower or go shopping.. I can't do both! I can weed eat, but there is no way I'm gonna vacuum.. It's about putting the energy, to what really needs it till it's gone.

Did you get flooded by Ida? 🤗💕🌠

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to Jesmcd2

Exactly Jesmcd2 showering and groceries use up all my spoons. We had 2 feet of water in the basement. Sentimental things got ruined but nothing serious lost. In New Jersey about an hour away, cars floated away. In Manhattan about 45 minutes away people drowned in their basement apartments. I just have to devote a half hour here and there to clean up the mess.

BlanketTime1 profile image
BlanketTime1 in reply to Sandydemop

glad you're ok!

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to BlanketTime1

Thanks BlanketTime1

jimeka profile image
jimeka

Thank you for that article Sandy. I knew about the spoon theory but I have never read the original account. It’s a good article and now I have a better understanding of it. I also have a better understanding of Lupus. I know a few people who have both Lupus and ms, so they will not have many spoons left. Again thank you 🤗don’t tire yourself out with the basement.

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to jimeka

thanks jimeka anything for you.

jimeka profile image
jimeka in reply to Sandydemop

Tried putting the spoon theory into practice today. My downstairs windows needed cleaning and the net curtains needed washing. After I had got all 3 windows clean, and I was hanging the last net, I thought to myself, I think I am out of spoons and with that I thought of Doubled51 as I flew across the room. My brain doesn’t get the message to the right foot to move . Luckily nothing broken, just very stiff, whip lashed and in a state of shock., but hey, it could have been a lot worse. Blessings Jimeka 🤗

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to jimeka

glad you're ok. that was close! please be careful and know your limits!!

Kenu profile image
Kenu

Good post 👍 I have known about the spoon 🥄 theory for quite a while. I can totally relate to this and I too at times use all my spoons and pay for it. I pretty much get things that I need to due in the morning because after 5 o’clock I am done. I am not sure 🤔 if I can bank any for later as I use what I have and regroup 👍🙏😉🤗Ken🐾🐾

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to Kenu

I wish I could save up spoons. Agree after 5 I’m done. Maybe earlier. Fatigue is a b…

BlanketTime1 profile image
BlanketTime1 in reply to Sandydemop

wouldn't that be nice? but there never seem to be enough spoons to do everything, much less to put aside. i'm definitely going to use the 'i don't have enough spoons for that.'

twooldcrows profile image
twooldcrows

i have not read this before ..wow ..this is a great way to tell someone what we do go thru ...thank you ...

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to twooldcrows

so glad i could be helpful

goatgal profile image
goatgal

When I took a 10 week class offered by the Southern California chapter of the NMSS, the spoon theory was introduced. It has served me well ever since in understanding the relationship between my energy levels and fatigue, invisible but oh so easy to feel. It's a valuable concept. Thank you for posting this!

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to goatgal

sounds like a great class. if they have it again (virtually) could you post it here? thanks

goatgal profile image
goatgal in reply to Sandydemop

If I hear anything, I will share. The spoon theory has benefitted me immensely. When I was offered the class, I understood the mechanisms of MS but had no understanding of its psychological and emotional effects on me. None of my healthcare practicioners had ever helped me understand more than lesions and exacerbations. I tend to be very self critical, flogging myself when I don't accomplish as much as I want. The spoon theory helped me understand me and the hidden effect of fatigue on what I want/need to do. I'm a little less self critical now, and a lot more charitable and generous with others I know who suffer from auto immune diseases.

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to goatgal

thanks goatgal i relate. this article helped with the criticism.

MarkUpnorth profile image
MarkUpnorth

That's just the way it is with M.S. I knew that.I tried getting more spoons for the silver wear drawer, but it didn't help. Except that I don't have to wash the spoons as often before running out. Now I run out of forks first.

Okay, now I'll go back and read the article, later, when I get more energy. Just hope I remember? Where's the post it's? Done. Post it made.

Hey, I just remembered, I don't have to make dinner today!!! It's left-over say! That's a happy/sad thing. I don't have to cook, happy. I love to cook and won't be, sad. But, I got to go downstairs and read the article. Happy. Very good article. And, It prompted me to again learn about Lupus which I again googled, which a good friend of my wife has. We're a lot a like with respect to our limitations. I forgot about all the pain and body damage from Lupus. Okay, at least I'm not damaging my kidneys, &..... The pain, got that one. Got it under control with my last spoon I save every evening for that. Evening is 9 PM. Yesterday it was more like 8 PM. There's always the, do I stay up later, like a dead fish in bead, watch TV, and forget what I watched. And when asked, do you want to watch another episode of xyz? I think, xyz, what is that? Watch the recap, yeah, I vaguely remember this? Maybe it will come back if we start watching the next episode? Yeah, not really. So episodes that are not dependent on the last are best.

People who bend spoons with their minds. Would that help? Maybe I could use that to extend my energy reserves? Googled that. Nope, that's just a trick of already broken spoons released to look like they are bending.

Sorry, that wouldn't help. Eat healthy, Avoid processed foods with un-natural chemicals, and keep at least one or two of your spoons to walk with whatever assistance you need. That will eventually give you more spoons!

You won't get more forks, so you'll still have to wash silverware as often, but, you'll be walking!!!

Neworleanslady profile image
Neworleanslady

Thank you I’ve never read the original

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9

Some days I have (at least what I think are) more spoons. Like yesterday. It was cool out so I went out and learned how to run a chainsaw. By 2:00 I was done, and I do mean done...

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to mrsmike9

i so understand that! on days when there is no humidity i feel like my old self again. I try to do a lot more than i can on a tough day. then bam! i'm wiped out. it's deceptive to feel "normal," Yesterday was one of those days. Today I am wiped out. Oh well. Live and learn. even though the weather is great again today, i'll be sitting most of it out on the porch. recuperating. Hope y'all have a good one.

bxrmom profile image
bxrmom

This totally explains why I don't have the energy to do anything on the days I take a shower...uses a lot of spoons to brush my teeth, wash my hair, body, shave. By the time I'm done, I'm wiped out, back hurts too much, or both.

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop in reply to bxrmom

hey bxrmom one day i will write about my spoon experiences. Everything has it's spoon allotment. Today i went to PT, then the gym then a shower and now hiccups. everything costs spoons. even hiccups.

bxrmom profile image
bxrmom in reply to Sandydemop

Yes, everything costs spoons :( Some days certain activities don't cost as many spoons but other days the same activity costs more spoons.

Sandydemop profile image
Sandydemop

exactly! finally i can talk to people who get it. you are my people!

You may also like...

More about spoons

so here's the thing about spoons. I have made up a system that has worked for me. If the average 18...

When you run out of spoons!

your concerns, or questions... We have a lot of Great Caring people here that might be able to...

How do you explain to others...

like to tell others about how MS affects me but have been unable to communicate it effectively....

Explaining MS

Explaining MS...

asks and l say, lts like taking the remote and having 1 good battery and 1 bad... Sometimes it works