Stop seeing people as their conditions.
Yes, it's important to recognize their condition and the way it impacts their day-to-day life, but their condition is only one aspect of who they are.
For example, people tend to see me as this super well-rounded, intelligent, and independent individual until I tell them I'm autistic. Suddenly they start dumbing things down to me. I've even had people infantilize me without realizing it. Not only do people see me for my disorder, they see me with their inaccurate, stereotypical version of it.
(This is assuming they believe I'm autistic in the first place, but that's a whole other post.)
I cant even imagine what people with more stigmatized and vilified disorders go through. People with psychosis, cluster-b personality disorders, schizophrenics, DID and the like.
You are not your disorder(s). And you certainly aren't the demonized version of them that mainstream media sensationalizes for revenue. Your struggles are incredibly valid and most likely made worse by the stigmatization.
But please, listen to me. There are people out there (who don't have your disorder) who will see you as a full person. Who will want to be your friend, or your lover, or another form of partner. They'll see you for your interests and passions, the way you like your tea or lack thereof, the kinds of shoes you wear and the words you find funny, the movies you hate and the songs you love; they'll see you for you.
Please don't give up on yourself. I want you to be able to look in the mirror someday and go "I am still loved even with what I'm going through, not despite it." I want you to be able to see yourself for your full self, and eventually love who you see.
I know living with stigmatized disorders and conditions is really hard. But they do not define you, and I'll keep advocating for your personhood in the face of those who think otherwise.
turnnoffyourmind
kianamaiart
tangentwithtanner
yousharknotpass
dailybridgerton
discoholicmusic
gummygunk
snowghoul
