[i-hate-chick-fil-a]

Absolutely disgusting.

Call them and complain if you agree: [phone]

[feministism]

[infernallesbian-deactivated2019]

Definitions of “I’m fine” from someone with chronic pain

I’m having a relatively low pain day

I feel normal but don’t want to bum you out

I’m hurting a lot but I don’t want you to think I’m complaining

I’m hurting a lot but you’re only asking to be nice so I won’t tell you that

I’m not doing fine but I’m trying to convince myself I am

I am too tired to tell you how I actually feel

It makes me too upset to tell you how I actually feel

I have forgotten what “fine” is so I use the word and I hope you don’t question it

This list is by no means complete, these are just what I find most often in my life

[friendraichu]

I think that one of the biggest problems with ableism in America is the sinister “good samaritan” disguise it takes.

So much of the ableism we can observe comes from “good intentions”:

- trying to spot “fake” service dogs

- leaving passive aggressive notes on cars that people think shouldn’t be parked in disabled parking spots

- the entire mess that is the assisted suicide movement

- posting “inspirational” photos, videos, and stories about disabled people without their express permission

- using terms like “special needs” and “differently abled”

- trying to cure conditions that are not inherently harmful/fatal like autism or adhd

- overriding the autonomy of disabled people

The arguments I see for these always come from people who refuse to believe they are perpetuating ableism. They insist that they are trying to help disabled people and that these things are “for their own good”.

But they just perpetuate stereotypes and existing power structures already stacked against us.

Listen to disabled people on disabled issues first and foremost. Neurotypical and able-bodied people cannot be seen as the authority on a community they are not apart of.

[lifewithchronicpain-original]

Every time someone tries to change the word disabled to be more “positive”, somehow my every present pain doesn’t go away. Shocker.

[randomslasher]

Yet every time they do, the collective level of compassion seems to dip, because it might suck to be disabled but what’s so bad about being diverse?

[lifewithchronicpain-original]

And more “how dare you be negative of your condition when-so-and-so, with lots of money and support ran a marathon! They embrace their diversity why can’t you?” Do not want.

[chasing-asterion]

How to Build a Chronic Pain First Aid Kit

Disclaimers: This is what’s in my kit, what I need for my condition. You need to do what’s right for you.

I have severe fibromyalgia, asthma, autism, vision impairment, anxiety, OCD, depression, BPD. The first three are what the kit is for.

Now, I’ve done this before but now that I’m flying out of the country soon, I had to rework my kit. It showed me that my flare box (which lives at home) and my backpack kit need to be the same thing because I can’t be swapping items all the time. If I have a meltdown or flare outside, it does me no good if my best products are in my home-flare box.

When I go out it fits in my little backpack alongside water, umbrella, wheelchair gloves, wallet, and emergency external battery for my phone.

At home the kit lives in my walker alongside emergency food and water, flare medications, ereader, 7 day pill wallet, and noise cancelling headphones.

I used to prep for “pack enough to get me home safely.” Now its, “Pack so I can stay out longer and enjoy myself more.”

Okay let’s get started.

What You’ll Need

1. Small travel cosmetics bag

I say ‘travel’ because they’re more compact with more storage space. (Available on eBay, most drug stores/chemists) 

This is mine, I got it on eBay for $10. It folds out, has lots of compartments, and a handle on the other side.

2. Invisible hair elastics (the kind for tiny braids) for packing/containing

3. Tiny sauce portion cups (or zip lock sandwich bags)

What to Pack

Here’s what’s in mine that helps me: 

(from top to bottom) 

Instant heat pack (has a little chemical compartment in the centre that bursts under pressure and turns it hot.) 

Physio band for stretching aching joints - this is especially helpful if you have to be sitting for long periods, wheelchair, planes, class etc. Use invisible hair elastic to keep it rolled up

Disposable vomit bag 

Baby wipes - sweating, vomit

Compression gloves for when my joints start to ache and my hands tremble

Tissues

Bandaids (learning to push a wheelchair will shred your fingers when you’re starting out) 

Roll on oil for headaches and anxiety

Spare batteries for TENS machine

TENS machine - gently shocks my muscles to make my back let go of my ribcage

Deep Heat for aching legs

Anti inflammatory gel for shoulders and hands

Emergency medication - nausea, pain, nerve blockers, migraines

Mars Bar for low blood sugar

Squishy stim toy for meltdowns and anxiety

Ear plugs (set) for serious sensory overload - don’t use dirty ear plugs, you can get infections. I have noise cancelling headphones as well but they aren’t as good as ear plugs in emergencies. 

Listerine breath strips - in case I puke, also some meds taste vile. 

Inhalers (steroid and ventolin) 

All packed up, this is what my kit looks like: 

I would be really grateful if people could reblog this to help other spoonies. If you have other ideas, I would love to hear them! 

Please reblog with your condition and what helps you. Spoonies need to look out for each other.

[sydrave]

[ID: tweet reading “No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp. Ever. –Stella Young on why the saying the only disability in life is a bad attitude, is bullshit.”]

[katblaque]

Here’s a handy thread I wrote about Intersectionality and its misuse. You can read Crenshaw’s original piece here and watch my video about intersectionality here

[causeitsfreakingmeout]

Vic and Ripley make up after their first fight and share their first I love yous.

[causeitsfreakingmeout]

All scenes of Vic and Ripley at their place, the diner.

[causeitsfreakingmeout]

Vic finding out about Jack and Andy's turnout room activities and then, of course, her own.

[causeitsfreakingmeout]

Please join me in my happy Vicley bubble where the end of 215 didn't happen.

[feministism]

[catchymemes]

[slipping-into-madness]

[endangered-justice-seeker]

It’s easier to think of someone as “lazy” than to face the fact that school costs too much, that better jobs are inaccessible, that childcare is unaffordable, that people are forced to work so hard for so little that there’s no way they could have enough energy to attempt schooling or finding better work, and that what we give to people who can’t work is insufficient to the point of being shameful. I could say that calling people lazy is, in itself, lazy, but it’s not just an intellectual shortcut. It’s a defense mechanism.

[smitethestate]

That’s me that’s me I wrote that!! Omg it makes me so giddy with happiness to see my work on a spreading Tumblr post like this. 

Anyway that bowl thing looks amazing and would probably help me to eat a lot more vegetables, and it’s even more amazing if it can help disabled people make salads and save money by not having to buy pre-made salads.

[causeitsfreakingmeout]

They cut to widescreen way too fast on that Vicley forehead kiss last week so I did a thing.