For a long time, I’ve never considered myself to be a disabled person and part of the disability community. A lot of the people I meet through my advocacy journey have battled similar issues to me with knowing exactly where they “fit in” when it comes to a category or a formal diagnosis.
Over the years, I’ve wondered whether the pain would go away. Living as a disabled person, yes, pain comes and goes; therefore, I’ve had to modify my routine and my week-to-week schedule around my body. Over this past year, I’ve been exploring the term chronic illness and its meaning.
Yes, the clinical world defines chronic illness as a disease or condition that lasts 3 months or longer. Still, from my experience and in talking to friends who are chronically ill, I do believe that CP is under the chronic illness umbrella, and I do identify as someone who is chronically ill.
As a disabled person, your time and energy are so important. The energy that you put into your day-to-day life is valuable. As someone with CP, I do take double the energy to do things, and as a result, I do burn out easily. When I burn out, it takes weeks or even months to recover and regain the energy I once had. This is why finding balance is crucial for me. I’ve learned to listen to my body and prioritize rest when needed, even if it means saying no to certain activities or social events. For me, it’s all about understanding my limits both physically and mentally to put my health and well-being first.
Connecting with like-minded people in the disability community whether they’re self-diagnosed or medically diagnosed has been an empowering opportunity for me. As I grow as an activist, I get to meet people within the communities I’m involved in who do incredible things. Through my work and by meeting these people, I’ve found a sense of belonging that I never thought I would have.
Please just keep in mind this is my own lived experience, and this isn’t a medical expert opinion.
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