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Key Takeaways
To say youre disabled publicly can be a terrifying experience.
For some, the identity is prescribed purely by others.
Identifying with disabilities that arent as visible can mean a lot of self-reflection.
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I Know You Are But What Am I?
For many disabled people, diagnosis is just a small part of the story.
It wasn’t until I started to look around people in the queer community, she says.
Medical professionals were hesitant and actively resisted providing her diagnostic support.
In one case, she says a practitioner was actively resistant.
I don’t really say how it impacts me…I’m open, but I’m guarded.
If I was borderline that’d be fine, but that’s not what was asked.
I can say I’m autistic, but then I leave that up for someone else’s interpretation.
I don’t really say how it impacts me.
I’ll say I’mdyslexic, I have anxiety, but then I leave it up for interpretation.
Like, I’m open, but I’m guarded.
At the beginning it was just like, Oh my gosh, what is this thing?
What is the prognosis?
What do I need to do to help myself to remain as functional as possible?
Powell says that since becoming a counselorshes been practicing since 2015she finds herself using her own training for support.
For her, that means usinggrounding techniquesandself-talkto combat the feelings of depression that often accompany her high symptom days.
What They Wish They’d Heard
Both Powell and Nearing have advice for themselves and others.
For Powell, its a message for her younger self tofind mental health supportand to not ignore medication.
I would tell myself to really take therapy seriously.
And then, you know, actually take the treatment that is prescribed to you.
Because I did a lot of skipping.
I was terrified of needles at that point.
And that’s kind of where we leave it.
I really wish that they would see behavior as a form of communication rather than just a behavior.
