I REMEMBER the first time I sought help for troubling symptoms at age 12: fatigue, nausea, pain, and a general feeling of being "off". I expected advice, some tests, maybe a prescription. Instead, I was told I was "too young" to be sick, that I was just "stressed" with school, and that what I felt was "normal for girls going through puberty".

That moment marked the beginning of a long and exhausting journey (one I'm still navigating a decade later) filled with worsening symptoms, dismissal, a healthcare system that rarely investigates chronic illness in depth, and one that overlooks how a declining quality of life can impact someone.

Fatigue is prominent in many chronic illnesses. I often feel as though I'm running on a lower battery than everyone else, like my body never fully recharges. I want to spend the little energy I have on fostering relationships, partaking in activities, exploring hobbies, climbing the career ladder - living the life I imagined for my twenties. But the reality is, I can't.

That energy goes towards not only the demands of life, but also into constantly advocating for myself and protesting to be believed, researching symptoms and treatments alone, completing basic tasks that feel near impossible, and masking how unwell I am so I don't make others uncomfortable and so I'm not seen or labelled as "unreliable".

I am desperate for people to understand the reality of long-term conditions, and I think they would, if the conversation surrounding chronic illnesses in young people were more welcomed in Jersey.

Since the pandemic, more people have developed chronic illnesses as a result of contracting Covid-19, so one would only hope and assume there would be more services for those affected.

Many doctors have never heard of several of my conditions, so I find myself explaining them over and over. I have no problem doing this to an extent, however, since these conditions have become much more prevalent, I ask myself - why is there such little awareness in the medical community for debilitating illnesses that can affect so many?

Having one condition can make you more susceptible to having overlapping or comorbid symptoms and conditions, yet there seems to be a gap in investigating other issues once you have received a "satisfactory" diagnosis. Take irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for example. While I can appreciate that many may identify with their diagnosis, there are also many patients who feel as though this is simply a blanket label and as though the actual cause of their symptoms has gone undetected.

This is not to point the finger at the doctors and medical staff who are doing their best and working their hardest at a time when they are overworked and short-staffed, it is an observation of a failing system and one that I have been a victim of.

Earlier diagnosis can prevent devastating consequences, and prompt treatment can significantly improve a patient's quality of life. We receive standardised advice such as "eat a healthy diet, drink more water, exercise", yet those "simple" things can not only be extremely difficult if you are dealing with disabling symptoms, but it is also likely that the patient has tried all these suggestions to no avail and requires further testing and intervention from a medical professional.

When I've expressed how isolating my experience has been to medical professionals - how it seems I'm the only young person going through this - I'm told they see many patients similar to myself. So where are they? Why aren't there spaces to connect with people in the same boat and provide a chance for young people to talk about the grief we feel? In waiting rooms and programmes, I'm surrounded by people decades older, and I'm often met with judgment and dismissal.

Healthcare in Jersey, from my experience, appears to take a fragmented approach to complex conditions. I often feel like a problem to be passed around, not a patient to be supported. Especially as a woman, I know many of us have been passed off as being "hormonal" and "emotional". It seems that if you are in tune with your symptoms and educated about your body - because, you know, you're the one living in it - you are "looking for problems that aren't there", "self-diagnosing" and "relying too heavily on doctor Google". A lot of us just want answers and to see an improvement in how we are feeling, so we take matters into our own hands, taking a proactive approach to seek answers and advice from any resources possible.

The constant dismissal I have experienced has actually made it more challenging to seek medical help when I may need it, due to the fear that I will not be taken seriously. I once thought that, "maybe this appointment will be different, maybe this time I will get some definitive answers", and unfortunately, more often than not, this is not the case.

I am extremely grateful for the doctors and medical staff who have believed me and advocated for me. The support goes such a long way and can truly make a difference to someone's life, even just listening with an open mind can do so much.

In Jersey, the healthcare and overall system isn't designed for or in favour of supporting people who are unwell and rarely takes into account the needs of those of us who are younger - despite many of us still experiencing financial strain and insecure housing as a result of poor health.

There are endless hoops in the social care and housing system; people under 25 cannot apply for social housing without support from an external agency, and yet those agencies are overburdened, with long waits and little guidance on how to access them.

Our society still remains oblivious to young people who are seriously ill, despite this being the reality for many people including myself.