honestly students with mental disorders such as depression anxiety etc that go to school should get more recognition and support, most people have no idea of what it is to have to pick yourself up every morning and attend class even when you feel like dying

I am so proud of each & every one of you that this post applies to. You are so much stronger, more inspirational, and more resilient than you realize or give yourselves credit for

People with chronic pain want you to know ……

[Transcription: 

People with chronic pain want you to know: 

They are doing the best they can 

They hate cancelling plans, calling in sick and letting people down

They hate complaining. They are sick of being sick. 

They don’t want sympathy or pity

They just want understanding. 

Don’t tell them to get better; they would if they could. 

They have tried getting over it, forgetting about it and pretending it doesn’t exist. 

They have tried different exercises, different diets, different medications and different therapies. 

All they want fro you is friendship and support

They want distraction. They just want a part of their life that isn’t associated with pain and illness

No matter how well you think you understand chronic pain or illness, until you have it you own’t have a clue. 

Just remember: it’s not their fault.]

Habits, Tics, Stims, Compulsions, and Behaviors

You are tapping your foot. Someone asks you to stop. You do. You feel no ill effects aside from maybe disappointment at having to stop. You tap your foot often. This is a habit.

You are tapping your foot, whether you want to or not. Someone asks you to stop. You can’t. If you try to it feels like holding in a sneeze and the pressure builds up. It might come out in a different, even less controllable action. This is a tic.

You are tapping your foot. Someone asks you to stop. You do, but immediately feel worse physically or emotionally. It was a way for you to express yourself and how you feel. You may feel pressure. This is a stim.

You are tapping your foot. Someone asks you to stop. You can’t, because if you do something bad will happen, possibly some specific bad thing. You know it’s irrational, but not doing it gives you anxiety. This is a compulsion.

You are tapping your foot. Someone asks you to stop. You can’t, because if you do this specific bad thing will happen. It is not irrational to you, although it is to others. This is an erratic/disorganized behavior.

Those last two also fall under the heading of “magical thinking” clinically speaking

to anyone who thinks those of us with invisible disabilities have “passing privilege”:

being denied access to resources you need is not a privilege.

being refused disability benefits at first glance because you look “healthy” is not a privilege.

getting dirty looks and having insults thrown at you for parking in a disabled space, using a disabled toilet or sitting in disabled seating is not a privilege.

getting accused of faking or exaggerating because “you look fine” is not a privilege.

being made to feel like you shouldn’t sometimes use mobility aids/wheelchairs because you “seem fine without them” is not a privilege.

having doctors not believe you’re sick and even refuse to give you any tests or diagnosis is not a privilege.

being denied treatment and medication because doctors don’t believe you really need it is not a privilege.

constantly being told that “you don't look sick” when you tell someone about your disability is not a privilege. 

being forced to do things that you really struggle to do because “you seem fine” and “you CAN technically do them” is not a privilege.

constantly worrying about how you look and if you should wear certain clothes, make up or do your hair because you’re afraid it might give people another reason to deny your conditions is not a privilege.

being afraid to even tell people about your conditions because you’re worried about how they’ll react and if they’ll believe you is not a privilege.

having your own loved ones question you is not a privilege.

questioning yourself and wondering if it is all in your head is not a privilege.

looking healthy does not mean you get the privilege that comes with a healthy body and mind. having an invisible disability is NOT a privilege and never will be.

@ people who are ill in anyway but are still trying to find a diagnosis

you are valid

your issues are valid

I am so sorry you have to go through all this

just because you arent sure whats wrong, doesnt mean something isnt wrong.

just because you havent been diagnosed, it does not mean you are not sick.

you are not making it up

Its okay to feel panicked, scared, stressed or anything else because this is a scary thing to go through, your emotions are valid.

its okay to not know how to feel, because this is a very hard situation to go through, any form of confusion or frustration you might feel is valid.

whether you are home, in school, or working, your health is the most important thing, please put yourself first. and never feel ashamed for putting yourself first.

you are going through so much, and im sorry you couldnt just be diagnosed and at least know whats wrong, i hope you get whatever amount of help you need soon.

do not let people invalidate you, do not let them say youre lying, and do not let them treat you like youre lying. this goes for friends, family, strangers and even doctors. you are a person, you deserve to be treated like a person. you deserved to be believed.

you matter, you are amazing and im so proud of you.

and always remember

I believe you. and i believe in you.

Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t have physical problems.

Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t be disabled.

Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t be chronically ill.

It’s not your fault that some people don’t understand, even if these people are close to you, like family or friends.

Reblog if being disabled has affected your life in a positive way.

Reblog if being Deaf/HoH has given you sign language, community, a sense of identity.

Reblog if your blindness or DeafBlindness has given you a unique perspective of the world and awesome ways to communicate.

Reblog if being autistic has given you a creative ability, community, and the strength to get through the day and to find ways to speak for yourself.

Reblog if your physical disability has given you subtle ways to know how to trust people, to see who hey really are, and to give you an identity, to help see yourself as beautiful or sexy.

Reblog if your chronic illness has given you the ability (even if it’s forced) to take life in stride, not push too hard or rush to much, and has given you the ability to appreciate things.

Reblog If your ADHD/ADD has given you the ability to create, to know your limits, to seek help, to learn to live YOUR way.

Reblog if your mental illness has taught you how to fight, to be SO strong, when literally the whole world is against you and you are at your worst. If you’ve learned how to ask for help and manage your life YOUR way and pull through.

All of these things I personally have experienced. I see so much negativity and trust me I understand all of it.

But reblog if a disability/illness/etc has given you a way to view life in a positive way. I want to hear your stories!!!

I don’t have a name for most of my disabilities and illnesses yet, but they have already made a positive difference in my life. Yeah, there’s a lot that sucks but you know what?

Being autistic has taught me how to communicate better than an abled person. I’ve learned to find joy in the simple things that I can experience through my sensitivities that someone without autism will never feel. It’s taught me to learn the limits to my comfort and it made me learn to respect them.

Having endometriosis has taught me that it’s okay to not work myself to death every day. That it’s okay to advocate for myself and that doing so doesn’t make me the bad guy. It’s taught me to take care of myself and to be compassionate for my own suffering. It’s taught me to be grateful and happy just to be feeling better than the day before, even if I’m still hurting.

I have undiagnosed anxiety, fainting spells, joint pain, digestive problems, and skin issues, and I don’t know what they are going to teach me, but I’m looking forward to their lessons.

The best of all is that all of my struggles combined are a foolproof ableism radar. You will be aware that Im disabled within the first five minutes you meet me. Ill make it clear to you that i have needs that you need to be okay with. And if you’re not? Then don’t talk to me. I don’t need your negativity.

Friendly reminder that having a good day or a good week doesn’t invalidate your struggle. If you’re mentally or physically ill/disabled and you suddenly have a day where you are feeling significantly better and can do things you usually can’t, that does NOT mean that you were faking when you were feeling worse, it does NOT mean that you were exaggerating your problems all along, it does NOT mean that you could and should have “gotten yourself together” earlier and it DOES NOT IN ANY WAY invalidate your diagnosis. It just means you’re lucky enough to be having a good day - and that’s great! So please just allow yourself to enjoy it.

I believe your pain is real

I believe your pain is real

I believe your pain is real

I believe your pain is real

I don't give a shit if its mental

or physical

Or "in your head"

I believe you.

I hate when people say “trying isn’t good enough”

So to all the people out there who’ve been told that, trying is good enough. To all the neurodivergent people, the chronically ill, the disabled, and everyone else: trying is good enough. As long as you are trying, it is good enough. Don’t let people tell you otherwise.

and sometimes you are unable to try at certain things because you don’t have the energy, or it isn’t worth all the effort for the outcome you will receive. And that’s okay too! You don’t need to stretch yourself thin over everything. You exist, and that is trying enough.