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everyone deals with pain differently.

I’ve always wondered why I get strange looks when I tell people I’m not feeling well. I have learned to put on this mask when I’m in public so everyone can think I’m okay. Then one day when I cannot take the pain anymore I get crap about being fake or lazy and I’m left distraught as to how someone could be so disrespectful.

Then I go on Facebook and read statuses about people going through similar journeys. I go ahead and click the like button and think to myself “they’re pretty ballsy to put their personal business out there.” But then I see a similar post just a few days later and all I can think is “okay now that’s just being thirsty for attention.”

I caught myself after that and realized that I am part of the problem. No wonder everyone thinks I’m lying because I don’t show how fragile my body truly is. From the moment I was born I have had to deal with numerous doctors, surgeries, medications and so forth. I was barely in an environment that wasn’t the hospital or my bedroom so when I was with people my age I wanted to fit in and be “normal.” Showing pain was a sign of weakness and no one would be able to accept you if they knew what was really going on. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’ve known it, I’ve always known it but never truly understood that everyone deals with pain in many different ways. I’m not here for reassurance or a virtual hug. “I know my value anyone else’s opinion doesn’t matter" (props to my girl Peggy Carter!)

This is just me dealing with my pain the best way I know how. So here I go into this journey of self healing.

-D

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so calm

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Kofi being too adorable, he’s reading Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche.

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My Mom just accidentally prematurely sent an email to an accounting firm… It was supposed to say ‘I am afraid that we will have to postpone our meeting”

but she hit send when all it said was

Hi Jeffrey,       I am afraid

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Tips for Part-Time Wheelchair users.

Since I don’t see this all that often, but part-time wheelchair usage is a thing and these are things I learned as someone who uses a wheelchair part time. (Please add to it if you think of things!)

*Not as many people as you think are watching you get out of your car to walk to where your wheelchair is to get in it.

*Chances are you have only a manual one- this can be hard on your arms. It’s okay to ask for help from someone to push. But it’s just as okay to yell and make a big deal when they push without asking (Then asking them 4 minutes later to push you. Wheelchairs can be emotional things- it’s okay to be emotional.)

*It’s okay to get up from your chair occasional. You don’t have to “pretend” that you can’t get up from your wheelchair. Everyone is different. You don’t owe ANYONE an explanation.

*Don’t be embarrassed about telling family members or friends you need the wheelchair. Chances are they WILL forget. They won’t mean to- but this is new for them and even more part-time for them. It IS okay to insist on bringing the wheelchair. Even on short trips.

* This is an important one I had to learn. IF ITS HARD FOR SOMEONE TO PUSH YOU. Say a hill, or something. DON”T JUST SAY “I feel bad” AND GET UP AND WALK IT. IF ITS HARD FOR THEM TO PUSH YOU. THAT MEANS IT’LL BE JUST AS HARD TO WALK IT. You are in that wheelchair for a reason, don’t feel guilty.

*You are NOT faking. Part-Time wheelchair usage is OKAY to do. You are not exaggerating your symptoms, you are not pretending you are worse than you are. Everyone’s story is different. You do not owe anyone an explanation.

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Break a prop? Just put it back and walk away… ha ha!!

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hahahaha

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How I feel at echostage

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“SO HOW OFTEN ARE YOU SICK?”

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[ Image description: a green image that reads “That disabled feel when you walk into a room and immediately look for potential places to sit down" ]

Submitted by sm4rtin

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HES SO FLUFFY

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Betrayal!

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