A spoonie is someone living with a chronic illness.
It mostly refers to physical chronic illnesses, though it has been known to be a helpful term for those with chronic mental illness as well.
It originates from Christine Miserandino'
s Spoon Theory story, in which she explains what it's like to live with chronic illness to a
friend, and uses a handful of spoons to demonstrate.
For example, daily activities that healthy
people tend not to think about take tolls on
people with chronic illness. You start the day with a certain number of spoons, and play your day around not running out. Socializing might cost spoons, using the stairs might cost spoons, lifting things might cost spoons, etc.
Skylar: It's a low spoons day today, I
don't think I'll go out.
Fallon: You're a spoonie? I didn't know. Well, I
hope you feel better tomorrow. Can I do anything for you?