If someone can lift 100 pounds, would you expect them to carry it with them everywhere they go?
If someone can sprint 20 miles per hour, would you expect them to be able to maintain that speed for a long distance?
Of course you wouldn’t. Being able to do something does not mean that you can do it for a long period of time.
So if a wheelchair user can stand to reach something or walk a short distance, why do you assume they don’t need the wheelchair?
When I was 4, I was the only kid in my class without a dad. I saw Iron man become a millionaire and genius with deceased parents. I knew I was going to be okay.
When I was 5, I was too shy to make real friends, but I saw Rogue battle her anxiety around people. I was strong enough to ask Ryan to play football with me.
When I was 10, I was being relentlessly bullied for being a maths and science junky, but I watched Peter Parker own it and make it his trademark.
When I was 14, I was one of the only brown people in my class. I saw Black Panther slay with the melanin so severely that it didn’t matter.
When I was 15, 16 and 17, I was on a cancer ward bed being pumped full of chemo, watching my hair fall out in chunks and knowing that I had more chance of dying than surviving. Deadpool came out. I fought. I won.
Now I’m 18. I’m struggling with depression, but I’m watching Wolverine battle his demons. I have medical ptsd, and I’m watching Bucky Barnes learn that his body is his own again. I’m disabled and chronically ill, but I’m seeing professor X and daredevil be disabled and spectacular. I watched Steve Rogers become something stronger without losing who he was.
They aren’t just comic books. They are reassurances. They are lifelines.
Okay if someone is heat intolerant and they’re really upset and miserable because they’re outside or without air conditioning when it’s really hot they’re not “having a fit” or being a baby. The heat is making them violently ill and putting them in danger. It’s a dangerous health concern and you’re a huge dick if you’re minimizing that and laughing at them.
My first night using my new body (U) pillow. Hope I get a better nights sleep. The pain has been disturbing my sleep for the last few nights 😴
• it’s ok to be sad and not know why
• you don’t have to be positive all the time
• you’re allowed to get upset over things, and express yourself over things that hurt you
• it’s ok if you relapse into a previous state, this does not diminish your progress
• it’s ok to cry, you don’t have to play tough all the time.
• you don’t have to push yourself too hard all the time. It’s ok to rest, you know your own limits.
thefibrodiaries:
disabled people are accepted in society just as long as they fit societies high standards and act exactly how disabled people are expected to act by abled peopleAnd then they have to put up with the “you’re so brave/strong,” “you’re so inspirational,” “you cant be disabled! you’re doing normal things,” or anything like that.
For those of you who don’t have enough spoons.
I think the worst thing you could do with a chronic illness is focus on getting better. It will tear you down physically because you will mistake a good week as a “recovery” and it will tear you down mentally because you will eventually relapse. Focus on being as healthy as you possibly can. Make the most of it. Live in this moment and not next months. Slowly you will see your mental and physical health improve. Its funny how we never find the things we search for.
emmeryn:
able bodied people trying to “prove” that people arent really disabled doesnt actually help any disabled people, it just makes it harder for us to get accommodations. you (able bodied people) have a preconceived notion about what “real” disabled people are like, but the reality is that disability is different for everyone. theres not just one way to be disabled and by trying to pin down who you think “isnt really disabled”, or even just who you think doesnt deserve accommodations you’re making it more difficult for us we already have so many hoops to jump through to prove we’re disabled enough to deserve accommodations , we dont need able people “trying to help” by telling us who they think is fake when our experiences are vast and differ from person to personable people can reblog this
• It’s nobody’s fault. It is genetic. It just happened.
• Do not be too proud or stubborn to ask for help. You need it.
• Brush your teeth and wash your face (even just with a baby wipe) everyday if you’re able to do so. It makes you feel more human.
• Shower or bathe whenever you are able to. Good personal hygiene is good for your mental health.
• Some people will leave. You don’t need those people. Others will stay and they are wonderful human beings.
• You are not a burden. You are not useless. Do not be guilty. Please. Guilt will eat your insides.
• You have not lost who you are. You just now have to make adjustments to accommodate this new thing.
• Accept the fact that you have an illness. Being in denial will only make your mental and physical health worse.
• Clean pyjamas are a divine gift. As are clean bedding and blankets.
• Self care is entirely subjective. If you want to do yoga then do it, if you wanna sit and eat takeout in front of the TV in a squirtle onesie then that’s fine too. Whatever makes you feel good, or at least better.
• If you are tired then rest. Do not burn yourself out. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if you need a nap then you have one.
• Talk. Write. Sing. Paint. Draw. Dance. Do something to express your feelings. Don’t keep them inside. You’ll explode.
• Don’t worry if you can’t adjust right away. It takes time. A lot of time.
• Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed. Unfortunately illness often has embarrassing symptoms or such. It isn’t your fault. People who allow you to feel embarrassed about such things are terrible people.
• Keep your sense of humour. Some days it’s the only thing that gets you through.
• There will be good days. Grab them with both hands and enjoy them. Savour them. Spend them doing things you love, things that you can’t do on bad days.
• Prepare yourself to the best of your ability. Like…always have a hospital weekend bag packed for emergencies, keep a bed day drawer or bag near to where you sleep, have food or snacks close by, always have a water bottle…
• Take your meds. Please. If you have a serious illness for the love of god don’t listen to the “big pharma” conspiracy theorists. You need your meds. They keep you alive. They enable you to function.
• Research your illness. Keep yourself informed. But don’t dwell on what might happen. Please don’t scare yourself.
• It’s okay not to feel positive all the time. It’s okay to feel down. It’s perfectly natural. But try to be as positive as you can. For your own sake.
• Your own health comes first. It’s not selfishness it’s survival.
• Be kind to yourself.
• The bad days can be horrific but the good ones are beautiful, and so worth holding on for.
• Don’t give up on love. Just don’t.
• You are a badass warrior.
“You’re too young/pretty to be disabled!” “Are you sure you need that? ://” “Have you tried (yoga, eating healthier, excercise)?” “Oh, I get like that too sometimes!” “I know someone who (mentions the only other disabled person you know)” “You really shouldn’t fake that” “___ is over diagnosed these days anyways” (Feel free to add more. If you’ve said these things that’s ok, just try to avoid them. It makes us uncomfortable at best)
IT’S NOT FREAKIN’ “LAZY” TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS TOO MUCH FOR YOU!!! IT’S ACTUALLY SENSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND NOT TAKE ON MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE!!!Still doesn’t stop me from feeling like I’m being lazy…
Physical illnesses are not worse than mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are not worse than physical illnesses. This is not a competition of who suffers more. We can do so much more together than we can apart. Personally, I love each and every one of you. I will defend you to the fucking last, my friends.
ascendingaxiom:
Disc problems. People should be aware. I’ve been asked by almost everyone when I say I have herniated discs.
If you say the word: “surgery”, everyone thinks after the surgery everything is alright, no pain, spine fixed, you can do everything you want. But it’s not true, we have to deal with a total other spine, the pain is horrible the first days, and we probably can’t do everything we could do before… It’s hard for people to understand, and it keeps hard for me to explain…
