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This week’s prompt didn’t specify what sort of illness we might have, so I’m going to assume it’s a contagious and common one like a cold or the flu that we’ve all experienced multiple times in life as opposed to diseases that only a small percentage of people have personal experience with.
These are the steps I tend to go through when I feel these sorts of viral illnesses sneaking up on me:
Step 1: Denial
No, of course I’m not sick! My sore throat and stuffy nose must be due to allergies of some sort even if it’s the middle of winter and everything here in Ontario is frozen solid.
This stage usually only lasts for a few hours or a day at most.
Step 2: Why? Sigh!
Why did I have to get sick this week? Doesn’t my immune system know I have 1,043 things to do (or, even worse, that I was looking forward to a relaxing vacation)?
Step 3: Grudging Acceptance.
I suppose I will give in and accept my fate as germy sick person, but I do not agree to be cheerful about it. Harrumph.
Step 4: Naps and Soup
Schedule permitting, let’s squeeze in as many naps and bowls of warm, soothing soup as possible.
I almost never eat soup when I’m healthy, and of course I do eat other foods when I’m sick, too. There is something about soup that’s extra appealing when I’m sick, especially if it’s chicken noodle or a soft version of beef vegetable that’s friendly for a sore throat or upset stomach.
If my symptoms include a fever, this is when I start taking my temperature a few times of day and writing down the results.
Step 5: Ugh, This Cough Is Never Going to End
Is it pneumonia, consumption, or maybe even something worse?
I think I should spend inordinate amounts of time on WebMD looking up every symptom and seeing what the worst case scenario is for them just in case.
Step 6-9: Slightly Better, Slightly Worse
Why am I coughing more today? Why am I coughing less today?
How soon can I exercise? How much can I exercise? What does the Internet say about how quickly I can go back to normal habits without risking the rare cases of heart damage that happen when people exercise too soon after a viral illness?
Shall I google it all a dozen different ways over the next couple of weeks until my cough disappears completely?
Step 10: I am Actually Well Again!
I think this one is pretty self explanatory. There’s nothing like feeling like your old self again.
A few days ago, Toronto 
Still, I’ve found myself staying home more often these days. I’d hate to accidentally spread this illness around to people at high risk of complications if I’m one of those young, healthy people who have it while showing few to no symptoms of it.