Quote:
Originally Posted by direkat
PTSD is a DISABILITY. Bi-polar is a DISABILITY. Depression is a DISABILITY. There are a lot of Mental illness related DISABILITIES.
No one tells people to get out of their wheelchairs, no one tells deaf people to 'just hear' or blind people to 'just see' I'M FREAKING TIRED OF BEING INVALIDATED BY NEUROTYPICAL PEOPLE
And if I get told to 'suck it up' 'chin up' 'grow up' 'you can do it' 'don't say can't' 'have you tried XYZ' ONE MORE TIME I SWEAR I'M GOING TO SCREAM OBSCENITIES!!!
I know you can't see mine, I know it's not apparent, but it's there. And a lot of the problem comes from people these days overusing 'anxiety' to mean 'nervous' 'depression' to mean 'sad' 'manic' to mean 'hyper' 'ocd' to mean 'picky' and all of these people think they understand what we go through and they just DON'T and it just pisses me off to no end.
Like, let's say you've dealt with an anxiety episode or a depressive episode, because most people have at some point in their life, why don't you use that and gain a little compassion for people. God, people that have broken their foot at one point don't say to a person that can't walk 'oh yeah I couldn't use my foot for a whole month one time, it'll get better', do they? And if they do then I just... I hate people.
Sometimes I really hate people. And I want to hide from all these mentally healthy people that sit all day and judge me and criticize me and act like they're helping me by picking me apart and saying things that I end up questioning my own validity.
Do you even know how hard it is for us to ask for help? and you're going to give us a 'you got this!' or 'just stay strong' or worse when I get told 'suck it up' or 'grow up'. I'm asking because I've done it and I've sucked it up and I've stayed strong and I've fought and I'm tired and I can't do it anymore and I need a break, I need someone to lean on, and all you can give me is this bull.
I. Hate. "Normal". People.
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I understand everything you're saying. Invisible disabilities are extremely difficult for people to understand. I have a service dog, and strangers will interrogate me and berate me all the time because they don't SEE a disability. I've gotten to the point where I tell them it's none of their business and very rude of them to ask a stranger about their medical history. They usually look miffed but rebutted and walk away.
I understand exactly what you're feeling though. I have dealt with this issue with my family. My mom and stepdad sort of understand how it is for me and how I just shutdown or worse meltdown when my PTSD episodes start. My dad is in denial, thinks I just want attention. Like a person needing support and attention is such a bad thing.
Yeah, people have no idea how strong you have to be just to survive with these disorders, telling us to just stay strong and we'll get better? Right...It's been 4 years since my disability diagnosis...about 10 since my initial diagnosis of panic disorder. It has taken that long, with serious effort and pushing on my part and lots of hospitalizations, residential treatment, IOPs, PHPs, my own research and education, therapy, and meds for me to even get to the point of stability I'm at today.
So, you're not alone. The best I can do, which I do from time to time, is be vocal about what it's like for me on my social media. I've learned to be unafraid of the stigma and share my story (not all the gory details but aspects of it) to educate others. It has helped. At least among my peer group and colleagues.
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