So sometimes I walk with a cane. I have severe back pain. A cane is considered an assistive device (so is a wheel chair, shower stool, toilet rails, crutches etc. There are many more but you get the point)
My cane is what makes my physical disability visible. Without it you would have no idea I had a problem unless I told you. I think in general people mean well but sometimes they don’t know when they’re being unsupportive, intrusive or insensitive. For instance some doors are heavy for me to open and I can’t tell you the number of times people have been so busy staring at my cane that they let the door slam in my face. Thanks! I appreciated that so much. (That was dripping with sarcasm and disdain in case you didn’t catch that)
People will stare at me and my cane looking me up and down as though I can’t see them. Like you know this is not a white cane for the visually impaired right?! I saw you, see me, see you and you’re still looking. That’s so frickin rude! When you’re like five you learn not to stare. Guy you’re like a 50 year old hard back man. You should know better!
In their defence I think people are curious because I’m young and a little stylish. I don’t walk with a limp so it’s like they’re confused or something. Some people will come up to me and say “oh did you hurt your leg? I hurt my knee once, it was bad” on a good day I can appreciate that they’re trying to show empathy and compassion. But on a bad day talking about my condition is the last thing I want to do and I think how dare they. Like if I was bald from chemo would I want everyone coming up to me saying “how’s the cancer? My aunt had cancer, what kind do you have?” Like maybe you don’t want to talk about the damn illness. What gives people the right?? Like what if I just walked up to someone and said “how’s your anal leakage? I hear it can be bad sometimes…” or wow that really looks like a herpes sore on your lip, hope you notified all your partners” like I’m exaggerating to make a point. But wouldn’t that be ridiculous?!
Then I’ll be in a store here that sells assistive devices and I’ll end up talking to someone in their 80s that either smells like bengay or urine.. let’s be real. So first they assume I’m buying the devices for my mother or grandmother. I’m like nope it’s for me, chronic back pain and they say “no you’re too young to have back pain” to me that is the most insane reaction. I think to myself “yeah bitch I’m 40 years old and I want fuckin handle bars around my toilet for the fun of it!” But I don’t say that I say “well I do soooooo I’m not sure where we go from here” I say it half joklingly and they’re not sure if they should laugh or feel uncomfortable.
People have been making this comment to me since I was 11 years old when the chronic pain started. Yup! 30 years of pain everyday. It wasn’t this bad when I was younger. It’s degenerative. But what do you say as an 11 year old when an adult says you’re too young to be experiencing the pain you’re having? So frickin annoying.
If one more person tells me all I need is vitamin A or B12!!!!!!!! In my mind I throat punch people for that kind of idiocy. Don’t worry I’d never physically hurt someone in real life I’m more of a danger to myself than anyone else. Depression…. a story for another day.
I just can’t get over the staring as though you can’t see them. I only use my cane when it’s really bad. I purposely don’t use it at work because my clients, who have mental illness, they get so concerned. I’m touched that they are so compassionate but then it takes the focus off them and that shouldn’t happen. They ask me a million and one questions and make all these suggestions. When they make suggestions like “take vitamin B12” or “try naproxen I take that” it doesn’t bother me at all. I think it’s sweet because they don’t want me to be in pain. But I found it was too much of a distraction so I stopped using it at work. Staff used to stare also but it was more with a look of pity and I hated that.
So stop staring at people with disabilities. We’re people too. We can feel awkward and uncomfortable when we’re stared at. How would you like it? Just think about that. And if you did have anal leakage would you want someone to come up and ask you about it in the middle of Walmart?!?! Or your erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, STDs. That likely never happens because your issues are invisible. Don’t treat people poorly just because they have things that are visible is all I’m saying. Hold a damn door open fuck! Now there are many considerate and helpful people. This is not directed at you and I thank you for your thoughtfulness, your warm smiles and wishing me a nice day. You don’t know how much those things can mean to a person. Especially with depression on top of everything else. Little things can mean so much to people. You never know what someone might be going through.
Just treat people how you would want to be treated… unless you’re a masochist. Treat someone the way you would want your mother to be treated.. unless she abandoned you and is a raging bitch. But you get what I mean. Don’t be a douche is what I’m saying.
That’s mai 2 cents!
Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies!
AQ
Just Mai 2 Cents 