Good Intentions

Good intentions mean nothing when they are misinterpreted.  The post, which I will have below, is not meant to discredit or discount or ignore the fact disabilities exist. This is to spotlight the trauma and stigma that the term disability gives to those suffering from being differently abled.  This goes for physical, mental, invisible, neurological, and any other form of disability. 

The intentions of saying that being different is good, beautiful and gets things done in the realms of Neurodivergence, were lost because I put the words, “you’re not disabled” in the text. This is triggering to some, enraging, however, to me, it’s a mindset.  I am different.  I think differently.  I act differently.  I get to conclusions differently.  

I look at myself as not disabled, I look at myself that I am different.  I get caught in emotional dysregulation outbursts.  I suffer from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and feel physical pain thinking I have failed someone or hurt them or disappoint them in my actions, I fall into deep anxiety and depression pits, I have immense sensory issues that leave me crippled with fear and overwhelm in situations, I can’t pick up a phone to make a phone call because of extreme issues with executive functioning and panic attacks from anxiety, I constantly forget important things like dates, information, connecting and contacting people no matter what failsafes to do so are out there, I suffer, I struggle, and most importantly, I have stayed silent about it for years because I should, “suck it up and be a man” about these, “mental issues” I have. 

This is what happens when someone who is trying to help, gets told he is being ableist for expressing how he got through and wrote a book on these pitfalls in life.  I live with it, every second, of every day, it will always be there, it will always be in my head pulling me away from my goals, my purpose, my life.  

However, I embrace it. I have a mindset that lets me refuse to be disabled. I refuse to be told that I am less. I refuse to be told that I can’t.

Below is the post in question.

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This is your reminder, you’re not disabled. You’re different. Different is good. Different is beautiful. Different gets things done differently. 

Don’t let anyone take that away from you.