Chronically Something

I reject disability shame, no matter how visible it becomes.

I think the notion that I should hide my disease or keep it a secret is totally fucked. How can being open about my having MS be a disadvantage? Anyone who is not willing to date/employ/befriend me because of it is not worth my time/effort/energy/love. I understand that it’s totally up to people as individuals to disclose, what I guess is, quite private information about themselves but I read a lot about people spending (quite valuable) energy trying to pass as perfectly-abled.

The more people know, the more people are understanding. I make a point of being open about my MS, hopefully I come across happy and willing to answer peoples questions. Lots of people don’t know about MS, and admittedly I didn’t either. Which is a total embarrassment because my Aunt is nursing home-bound at under 60 with (I can only assume is) secondary progressive MS.

So many people think that it is a muscle disease, or a problem with bones. The more that I can fill people in, so they have a greater understanding on how it is for me living with MS the more they understand when I can’t do the things they want me to (and usually that I want to too). It makes it easier for me and also makes them feel less like I’m ditching them or being a “bad” friend because I can’t always see them/leave early etc.

Anyhow, my point is, I’d love to see people be less embarrassed of their ailments (be them physical or mental). Knowledge is power and rather than running with people who are ignorant or discriminatory, find people who love you for all of you (even the broken/weird/special/diffrent bits) because I swear they are out there.

This rant inspired by…