Disabilities and Stigma Forum Discussion
heyy all sorry my next topic took so long to tget posted was trying to decide which one to do so ive chosen this one since we get tons of stigma thrown our way.
Everyone is welcome to participate ill form a taglist based on who replies and joins in
Also ill post a new question every 2-4 days or so to give people time to respond
Lets begin with an icebreaker shall we
ICEBREAKER
What place in the world would you like to visit?
reposting as no one has responded at all for past 3 days also re featured it
current q then everyone all new participants are still welcome to join in
In what ways can we help to stop stigmas surrounding disabilities?
In what ways can are we able to educate people and learn them about different disabilities?
@creativeOak9590 @purpleHeart16 @RaspberryCup8692 @TheLifeOfKelli @finnthewaffle @1Marg1 @sympatheticNorth2026 @Leeshalyn @GusteeMoon123 @Emily1256 @warmheartedSoul77 @kindSoul10 @TransAm85 @Darkseed @Emily619 @Antares127 @ThisIs543 @JoyIntoDarkness @ReclusiveReptile @Tyedyedbutterfly65 @AffyAvo @peachkitty @dreamMelody27
@CaringBrit
if they are willing to here you could inform than about your disability. To raise awareness of the subject, one could use comparisons to give them a better picture of what you are going through.
@dreamMelody27 for sure yes we can do that
I would like to go to Italy and Germany.
@CaringBrit
@DanaMH nice choices this was for the icebreaker plenty of questions to answer if you choose too
sorry for the very long delay on the next question theirs 2 left and im posting these together
Why is education important to help reduce stigmas in disabilities and chronic illnesses?
How would you like disabilities and chronic illnesses to be thought of in the future?
@creativeOak9590 @purpleHeart16 @RaspberryCup8692 @TheLifeOfKelli @finnthewaffle @1Marg1 @sympatheticNorth2026 @Leeshalyn @GusteeMoon123 @Emily1256 @warmheartedSoul77 @kindSoul10 @TransAm85 @Darkseed @Emily619 @Antares127 @ThisIs543 @JoyIntoDarkness @ReclusiveReptile @Tyedyedbutterfly65 @AffyAvo @peachkitty @dreamMelody27 @DanaMH
@CaringBrit because lack of information and knoledge conducts to stigma. As long as people know more they can understand. Also education does not only means only information but also teaching children to be nice so when they grownups they be kind.
It is contradiction but i like in the future for disabilities to be normal, to be respected and supported. hope genetics will help everyones disabilities in future, body or minds...
@WhiteDrop i agree and great response
@CaringBrit thanks, it is really important. People without disbilities take life for granted. Next day can happen them, or someone in familly or their child, untill then they too focused on their own lifes to care about others. Thanks Caring
sorry for huge delay but i saw this got no response and going to repost the last few questions
Why is education important to help reduce stigmas in disabilities and chronic illnesses?
How would you like disabilities and chronic illnesses to be thought of in the future?
@creativeOak9590 @purpleHeart16 @RaspberryCup8692 @TheLifeOfKelli @finnthewaffle @1Marg1 @sympatheticNorth2026 @Leeshalyn @GusteeMoon123 @Emily1256 @warmheartedSoul77 @kindSoul10 @TransAm85 @Darkseed @Emily619 @Antares127 @ThisIs543 @JoyIntoDarkness @ReclusiveReptile @Tyedyedbutterfly65 @AffyAvo @peachkitty @dreamMelody27 @DanaMH
Why is education important to help reduce stigmas in disabilities and chronic illnesses?
Because you can't understand what you don't know about. You start to make assumptions and they can be wrong or distorted.
How would you like disabilities and chronic illnesses to be thought of in the future?
It's part of our lives..it's reality. It should be accepted that it exists.
@LittlePrincessSarah both answers are well put i totally agree with those also would you like to be added to taglist on any future disability discussions i come up with if you wish you can answer old questions done on this one
how would i like my disability to be thought of... well it'd be nice if movies and shows didn't frequently mention my disability as an insult or a sign of weakness and something to be ashamed of... I've heard people casually throw around "bed wetter" or saying they'd make the other person "shit their pants"... I've had close friends, who i haven't told about it out of fear, make jokes and tease each other that they'll be peeing their bed from fear.. At least now there's starting to be some social backlash if someone calls someone else autistic or retarded as an insult, and I'm really glad about that, but people never give it a second thought who they could be hurting by putting down those for something they're incapable of controlling, and the fact that the fear of rumors spreading is the whole reason why i never went to a single sleepover in my life feels awful that there would be so much stigma. My parents won't even let me tell extended family when we're on visits since they don't want it being spread around so we do everything in our power to hide the pads and absorbent underwear. I just wish incontinence could be thought of as something where the person deserves more support, not to be made fun of to feel worse. i wish there was at least some social consequence for labeling people like that and using the word as an insult, but everyone seems to unanimously agree that they're gross and pathetic wimps so it doesn't matter how they feel
PS i wouldn't mind not being able to go to sleep overs if it was to protect me from harm, but it's the fact that it was purely out of fear of people telling others and treasing me for something involving a bodily function i can't control that bothers me so much about not getting to go.
@ReclusiveReptile I hear you. :) It's a taboo and people can be mean about it.
It's really limiting when you have to mask things. Have you thought about connecting with peer support groups to exchange ideas on how to fight the stigma in your everyday life?
@kindSoul10 is there a subcomunity on 7cups like that?
Honestly i never really thought much about connecting with others with similar issues since i always assumed others would want to keep quiet about it as much as i have. Even turning 20 now, i still worry about word of it spreading, so the idea of fighting stigma and being any more open than posting anonymously on here is still a bit terrifying since there's still that chance of word getting out in my college since the engineering groups are set up so everyone knows everyone.
@ReclusiveReptile there is no subcomminity specific to incontinence on 7cups. It would need some time to form a group, that's why I thought about local support groups additionally to 7cups.
Hospitals (gynecology, urology) can be a starting point in asking for specific support groups. The internet might be also helpful. I found a list here: https://www.managinglifewithincontinence.org/incontinence-organizations/
I understand how difficult it is to talk about this topic and anonymously it's still a big step. I think you still can check out the groups by calling them or giving them a visit without revealing who you are. Get an first impression and see how it works. They might have anonymous groups too.
@ReclusiveReptile hugs🤗. Not all people are like that, though us who understand might be hard to find. I feel and ubderstand you...i do not have incontinence (though everyone has to a certain degree) but i have my own problems and it's hard for me to watch tv without making associations with my problems so i flip channels alot...however all ith our problems we live on and I am proud that you called out for recognition and respect for incontinence. I spent a lot of time in hospitals and I met people who have it, genetic or due to trauma or just simple age and they were all nice people. Yes it hurts us to be reminded of our sufferings but we can allways flip the channel...for now at least...my boss was terrified that at 6 years old his boy was not "potty trained" but did not realise the true condition...
@FlowersPralinesPresents yeah honestly doctors still can't figure it out. it comes and goes so much for me that nobody can pinpoint a specific cause. For a while my parents thought i was just being lazy so that made it even more frustrating, and embarrasing having to go home in some loaner pants from school. At this point I just wish I could find out why I'm not "potty trained" yet lol
At least then if Id have some way to explain it to others like "it's an internal birth defect" or "there was a genetically based deformation" or "the nerves in the bladder frequently fail to send the signal to the brain because of such and such reason..."
I mean, I don't know if any of that would help dissuade looking bad because of it though, but I'd feel more justified at least in having it, and especially as a kid would've had a reason for my parents so they wouldn't think i was being rebellious or lazy for not getting up to go.
@ReclusiveReptile
Hi there. That was really well said. I've been completely incontinent since I was 6. I to have heard friends make jokes about wetting. My Family has never hid my incontinence from anyone.
I would like to visit Italy specifically Venice
A river...
@lazyKatz
