chronically-cj

[chronically-cj]

Friendly reminder that it’s ok to be sad about your disability. It’s ok to grieve what you once had. It’s ok to wish for things you never had. Society tells us we have to be these constantly positive, inspiring individuals, but we’re just normal humans. While I don’t suggest wallowing in misery 24/7, it’s ok to give yourself space to feel those tough emotions, rather than suppressing them and pushing them down,

[chronically-cj]

[chronically-cj]

I've come to a point in my life where I appreciate a good pill organizer

[chronically-cj]

A reminder that if you didn’t need a mobility aid you wouldn’t be day dreaming and fantasizing about how they would help you navigate the world and that no matter how much internalized ableism you hold it won’t change your reality about your conditions and you SHOULD do what is best for you because no one will punish you more than yourself if you keep ignoring your needs

[chronically-cj]

Friendly reminder to check the tips/feet of your canes and crutches; do they need to be replaced soon?

[chronically-cj]

Remember that every time you use your mobility aid in public, there is very likely another person there who is too apprehensive to use their own mobility aid and feels braver from seeing you use yours.

[chronically-cj]

It's okay to miss someone. I'm missing someone today. Emotions are wild.

[chronically-cj]

This is how I'm feeling today

snoopy of the day

[chronically-cj]

Is it just me or is the *clang* of a mobility aid falling on the floor the loudest sound in the universe

[chronically-cj]

Recently started biking to classes instead of walking and it reminded me that mobility aids don't always have to be labeled as "mobility aids". If it helps you, then it is an aid. And if it helps you, you should use it.

[chronically-cj]

When the mobility aid for your disability starts injuring you because of your other disability

[chronically-cj]

lmao.

*tucks you in*

*gives you a glass of water*

lmfao.

*turns down the lights to your preferred level of dimmness*

*turns on your fan to keep the room cool and give you some gentle white noise*

goodnight.

[chronically-cj]

Pro tip for my disabled and chronically ill friends in college: if you have to put a work order in and it is related any bit at all to your disability, write, very clearly in the "describe what needs to get done" section, "This issue is a health hazard," followed by a description of how the issue relates to your disability/chronic illness.

They are required to put it as a high-priority issue and fix it ASAP. Required BY LAW. Yes, I said it. They are legally required to fix these things, both under OSHA regulations and the ADA.

Play the disability card. I'm begging you. DISABLED IS NOT A BAD WORD. But don't abuse it. This is a fine line here.

Example: I'm heat and noise sensitive. My HVAC unit started breaking down and rattling loudly. That would be an example of a health hazard. A broken light could be a health hazard to someone with vision issues. I can only speak for myself here. But y'all have the right to speak up and advocate to yourself.

Neurodivergent people, this applies to you too. You're one of us (one of us! one of us! one of us!). Don't let the exclusionists gatekeep this information from you.

[chronically-cj]

casually having a low symptom day the day of a doctors appointment

[chronically-cj]

Yesterday I cleaned out of spite because I’m so fucking tired of having to walk on eggshells around my own damn disability. Im so sick of severely limiting how much I do each day in fear of overdoing it and making my pain & symptoms worse the next day.

And of course, everything was worse today. I slept for 12+ hours because I’d wake up, feel awful, and just go right back to sleep.

[chronically-cj]

People who have regular body heat don't experience cold the way we do. They apparently have this little heater inside of them that just, keeps their blood and internal organs comfy all the time. Being "cold" to them is just a chill on their skin. "If you're still cold after the first layer, put another layer on!" That doesn't work if you don't have the body heat to warm up those layers!!! it's just cold fabric on top of cold fabric on top of cold fabric on top of cold skin on top of cold fat on top of cold muscle on top of cold bones.

Then of course, even if there are FINALLY enough layers to make our skin warm. That does not mean it will make our bones warm. I could have an electronically heated blanket on me, and start sweating from it, and STILL BE COLD because it takes a lot of time for any amount of heat to pierce the surface level of my body & warm me in any ways that matter. So yeah, anytime you're interacting with somebody who doesn't have temperature regulation issues, and they offhandedly mention that they love the cold, just be aware they are never ever talking about our kind of cold. the kind that feels like an uphill battle. They're talking about something completely different and unique to them and their little internal heater. something some of us may never experience because we're always trapped in that fight with the air around us.

[chronically-cj]

When you do a big stretch and your hypermobile body just goes

[ID: A road sign with several arrows twisting over and around each other in all different directions. /end ID]