Do you feel comfortable with the word "disabled"?
Question for y'all out there with invisible disabilities like chronic pain, migraines, or mental health issues: do you feel comfortable using the word "disabled"? What has your relationship with "disability pride" been like-- do you feel it applies to you? Do you feel like it's a community you can engage with? Why do you feel that way? As somebody with both mental health and physical issues, all of which are invisible, I've been thinking a lot about this recently, and would love to hear from you guys what your thoughts are.
@painchronicwordsiconic
A big no for me please. I hate that undeniable, unhideable label on me and the annoying fact that people around treat me as the lowest of the low while mentioning that sarcastically.
I hate myself and my disabilities as well.
I'm sorry to sound too pathetic among such positive replies to this post. That's nothing i'm trying to be but the truth I have to face since my birth.
My sincere apologies in case i ruin anyone here's mood. I hope the world treats you well.
Have a good day/night to everyone reading this.
Personally, i don't mind the word disabled however i have a hard time accepting one of my disabilities do to personal reasons. Dont let anyone tell you cant do something. you might have to do it in a different way and that is okay. you got this
@painchronicwordsiconic No, I disagree because it can be a very negative thing to call people just like a slur. There are better words that replace disabled because it can be ableist to say disabled to mentally ill people.
@painchronicwordsiconic
that is the very least of my worries so yes more than comfortable.
special needs grate’s on me more for a reason I actually don’t know and therefore can’t explain.
disabled is all encompassing but let’s others know that the person in question has challenges beyond the average
Mental health sucks
@painchronicwordsiconic
I have an “invisible” disability. I’m uncomfortable mentioning it irl life because people argue with me it about it.
@adventurousBranch3786 im here for you
@blissfulTouch29. Thanks 🙏
@adventurousBranch3786 youre welcome
@adventurousBranch3786
I'm sorry to see that people argue about your own condition. It's so frustrating when people don't take you seriously or they aren't sympathetic to you.
Challenging question! I'm fine with the word itself but I dislike the connotation that disabled always equals incapable.
I have disabilities but I feel that I am "differently abled." Can I take my garbage out like my neighbor? Yes. But, unlike my neighbor, I need extra wheels on my bin to get it to the curb. (Can't lift and push).
(For context, sometimes my disability is invisible, sometimes not. Have people challenged me for parking in the blue spaces when I'm not using an adaptive aid? Yep. Do people treat me like my IQ has dropped 40 points when using that aid. Yep).
@BacktotheTrail Yes the blue spaces are a tricky area. Some people can be so unkind.
There are so many hidden disabilities, and people often react hostilely when they don't understand.
I remember one 'pain management course' that I went on and how we discussed the use of the word dis-abled.
@painchronicwordsiconic yes im comfortable with the word disabled. over time ive learned to accept my condition.
@painchronicwordsiconic it doesnt bother me until people treat me different bc of my mental and physical disabilities.
@painchronicwordsiconic no