*in An America Ferrara Voice*

*in an America Ferrara voice*

You have to achieve things but you can’t say you’re achieving things you have to say you’re “not that good” but you also have to be achieving things.

You have to lie but you can’t say you’re lying because that’s immoral.

You have to comfort people but never tell them the whole truth. You have to listen to them put themselves down but you can never agree with them.

You’re supposed to be proud of yourself but don’t talk about yourself all the damn time. You have to look after yourself but also never let your friends down.

You're expected to always know what people are feeling, which is impossible, but when you point that out you’re accused of being a bad person.

You have to stay supportive for your friends but not so supportive that it comes off as insincere or that it comes off as favouritism because you’re supposed to be a good friend to all of your friends but always be the best for everyone and always be grateful.

But never forget that you have best friends too so find a way to acknowledge that but always be grateful.

You’re supposed to never get tired, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never get overwhelmed, never fail, never show annoyance, never show exhaustion.

It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you!

And it turns out that not only are you doing everything wrong but also everything is your fault.

I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other neurodivergent person tie themselves into knots so people will like us.

And if all of that is expected and no one will even explain that it is to people who don’t know then I don’t even know.

People think they’re trying to be kind when they say “it’ll get better” but they aren’t.

It’s a punch to the gut whenever someone tells me “it’ll get better” because I’m chronically ill and it won’t. All you’ve done is try to make yourself feel better about my lifelong suffering.

just wanted to say thanks for the shoutout to young disabled people post. i’m 22 and trying to find a job that doesn’t make my brain implode that will also actually hire me, and my parents have been on my case about it because money’s tight, and I just. really needed that.

have a great day.

Aw thank you. Being young and disabled really sucks. I was the diagnosed ten year old and the housebound fourteen year old and the fact that the post has so many people relating means a lot to me. Thinking about what jobs will work well for me (physically and mentally) is a daunting thing and I wish you all the best in finding work.

hope you have a great day too

Bitches be like I understand logically that no one is perfect but if I don’t believe I’m perfect I will die.

…I’m not bitches. I am perfect.

Health is a myth and you cannot convince me otherwise

hello! sorry if these are invasive questions and feel free to not answer any of them if they make you uncomfortable, i just can't find any good sources that aren't just about old people

why/when do you use crutches?

do you think your crutches are more helpful than your cane?

any tips on talking to a doctor about using mobility aids?

Hi! I don’t mind any questions at all. I use crutches because of my FND, which, for me, causes a lot of stiffness, pain and fatigue. I use crutches when I’m walking longer distances or when I find it too hard to stand without any support.

My crutches definitely provide more support than my cane. You can balance out your weight on them and put far more support on them. I use my cane when I can mostly walk but I need a little support going up hills or towards the end of a walk. They’re both helpful in different ways. Crutches can carry more of my weight and my cane takes up less space.

I also use crutches around the house if I’m needing a wheelchair but can still walk a little way purely for convenience (wheelchairs are hard to manoeuvre in bathrooms for instance).

The first people who checked me out advised against mobility aids because they worried I’d become too reliant on them. When I met my first physiotherapist, she immediately gave me crutches because I couldn’t walk at all without support.

You can buy your own mobility aids pretty cheap and start using them when you see fit. You can mention to the doctor “hey I started using a mobility aids recently and it’s been helpful for these reasons”.

If you want your doctors approval or advice, I’d recommend being straight forward and saying “look I really struggle with my walking especially long distances/standing/uphill/whatever you’re struggling with and I thought perhaps a mobility aid would be helpful for me”. A good doctor will at least hear you out.

Mobility aids are amazing. They help me live my life everyday. If you’re ever questioning if you need one just go for it. You’re never too young and you’re never “not disabled enough”. Make sure to keep yourself safe and if it’s hurting you find alternative aids if you can. I hope that the outcome is positive for you.

Best of luck