It’s impossible to navigate a disability where it's not obvious and you don’t come across as particularly disabled, but you still have nuances, mental and emotional struggles that you deal with that aren't always obvious to the outside world.
Working with difference
My blog and book tell a different story, as I am able to highlight my mental and emotional struggles for the first time. As a small child, I felt different, because my disability wasn't obvious and I didn't fit into being disabled, or how people know disability to be.
As a result, life was harder, because I was expected to conform and fit in.
The facts don't change
But what you have and what you deal with doesn't change the facts. It’s not that we look for sympathy, but empathy goes a long way to help us know that others care. Underneath the disability, we are the same.
It's wrong to judge
Whether someone is mildly, moderately, or severely disabled; no matter the severity of the disability, my experiences over the years have shown that it is wrong to assume or judge, and instead others must act as a support whatever that person needs.
The starting point needs to be tolerance, understanding, compassion and empathy. Once you have those, there will be no need to assume or judge.
Yes, I think that things are much more difficult when you have an 'invisible illness' like autism or mental health issues.
I always knew there was something seriously wrong with me, but I didn't want it to be anything like mental health issues. I have wasted most of my life trying to avoid the issues, which only made things worse, because they paralysed me emotionally.
It would be great if people don't treat you like a circus freak, once they know what your issues are.
Thanks Randy. Yes, it's flawed, which doesn't have to be flawed at all. As you say, you deal with mental health issues and what you deal with isn't always obvious.
You know the support networks that need to be in place. Hopefully those people in your life will give you the support you need. Others must grapple with their conscience. A shared history is not an excuse for ignoring anyone who has mental health issues.
With the birth of your book you are officially a voice for the voiceless, illuminating lives through words. You should be very proud of that accomplishment.
And we all know that your tower of love is still to be built, that's very obvious.
Thanks Tim. As you say, through finding my own voice I have given a voice to the voiceless, (I never thought about or saw my book in that way) but without the love and support, I couldn't continue to give us a voice.
I love what we have here. It's comforting to know that we're not alone. Reading and responding give us our voice. I love that. Yes, we may have different things we deal with, which makes our issues different, but emotionally we will always be connected.