All adolescents experienced unstable periods, that is, periods when their symptoms were more severe and difficult to manage. A few adolescents referred to their unstable periods as "hell" or a "nightmare." About half of adolescents experienced more frequent unstable periods of their symptoms than the others.

University of Illinois at Chicago

The difficulty experience varied for each adolescent depending on whether the adolescent was experiencing a stable or unstable phase of their symptom trajectory. 

Type of Symptom Period 

Woodgate, R. L. (1998). Adolescents' perspectives of chronic illness:“It's hard”. Journal of pediatric nursing, 13(4), 210-223.

Adolescents' perspectives of chronic illness:“It's hard”

During the stable periods, adolescents found they did not have much struggle in their lives. When adolescents were experiencing minimal problems with symptoms, their lives could best be described as "normal." 

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