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“Disability” is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.

Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.

  • Keld [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    Eating yummy broccoli. No one at the food bank wanted their broccoli so I got 7 heads of broccoli. People at the food bank are such picky eaters I swear.

        • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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          1 month ago

          A handful is usually all you need! I don’t normally eat broccoli raw, but when I do I definitely notice a difference. Same with cauliflower; but when I cook it first it doesn’t mess with my stomach as much. I think it removes some of the things that can cause distress, if I’m remembering correctly. A lot of that depends on the individual, though. Sometimes our bodies just don’t like what we try to feed them, especially when meds and illnesses come into play.

          • DisabledAceSocialist [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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            1 month ago

            The problem is I’ve been diagnosed with a folate deficiency and the folic acid supplements aggravate my bladder terribly. I thought I would get extra folate by eating extra veg but the gastric symptoms it gives me are too bad. My tingling and pins and needles are getting worse and I’m really scared about it because it seems there’s nothing i can do, and the GP is so useless, she just tells me to take the folic acid anyway.

            • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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              1 month ago

              Oh I wasn’t suggesting that you should try it that way, I guess I was just over-sharing, sorry. I’m sorry the pins and needles are getting worse and that your GP isn’t helping at all. You’d think they’d have a shot or something they could give you that wouldn’t mess with your stomach. I hope you can get some proper care soon.

            • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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              1 month ago

              Could it be that the folate is doing something to the fibroids? And out of curiosity (don’t answer if you don’t want to share) what type of disturbances do you experience?

              • DisabledAceSocialist [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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                1 month ago

                I’ve had IBS for ages, although it was quite recent that I realised that a lot of vegetables were aggravating it. Wind and loose stools being the main symptoms of that, and caused by many different veggies. And the veggies that don’t trigger the IBS trigger migraines and bladder irritation. The only ones I can eat without any bother are potatoes, carrots and spinach, although apparently spinach can cause kidney stones so I’m hesitant to eat it more than twice a week. It’s just an awful way to live, I would love to be vegan and eat lots of vegetables, I wanted to do Dr Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Live diet but it’s out of the question.

                I don’t think the folate is doing anything to the fibroids, according to google, unmetabolised folic acid gets into your bladder and irritates it, so that’s probably the issue with that.

  • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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    1 month ago

    Ever since my surgery, I’ve been trying to fit in regular workouts, and if not that, at least half an hour of walking through the woods to keep myself fitter than before. Now, half a year later, I still have issues with my surgical scar and due to depression and basically being sick for an entire month, I’ve not only lost all of my stamina, but also gained almost all my weight back. I feel constantly exhausted and tired, but I still keep on walking and running. At some point, it just has to get better. Even if it takes a year.

    I’m too lazy to give up now, but I’m frustrated with how sad my life is atm, and how my body is one of the two major reasons for it. I can’t believe I managed to organize 380 people for an entire week with 24 hours of sleep only three years ago, and now I get a headache when I sleep less than 9 hours. It’s a constant uphill battle, but I simply refuse to give up, even when nothing seems to indicate it’s gonna get better.

    • Veggie_Deluxe [any, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      1 month ago

      You are doing good work keeping at it. I need to get some of that spirit into my life rn, i am losing steam bad (in an overall life sense). So even if it reads as empty, I am proud of you.

      • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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        1 month ago

        Thank you kitty-cri It just doesn’t seem to get any easier, you know?

        I am proud of you too. Your other comment suggests you are struggling a lot too, and I’m sorry it’s this bad in your life as well. I wish I could help more fundamentally, but if you want to, I’ll mentally take you along for a little walk cuddle

      • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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        1 month ago

        It feels so in vain most of the time, as if me trying to get better is just a Sisyphus task. I thank you for your kind words, sweetie, I needed them a lot cuddle

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      1 month ago

      It is frustrating, but I’m proud of you for keeping at it even when it feels heavy and impossible. Sometimes the most defiant thing we can do is keep pushing forward against the odds. Keeping active out of spite is just as effective as keeping active from necessity. :)

      • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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        1 month ago

        I shall stay active out of spiteful necessity from now on. This way, I’ll keep going regardless haha i-cant

        Thank you sweetie, I appreciate you <3

  • DragonBallZinn [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    Neurotypicals: “You are autistic, this means you can sometimes say out-of-pocket, insensitive things because you cannot hope to know any better.”

    Also neurotypicals: “Hey by the way! I will randomly make comments on your appearance, and how you remind me of this famous unattractive person you never asked for! I know you can’t help it, but I figured you need to be reminded of your insecurities. Just in case you forgot! Wait, why are you mad at me?”

    Sure, and I’M the one who can’t understand social cues….and I’m taking this “advice” from people who never keep their unasked for opinions or commentary to themselves.

    • Salah [ey/em]@hexbear.net
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      1 month ago

      Neurotypical people use their judgy comments more strategically (although accidents happen for anyone). They say them when they are insecure, feel threatened or for some other reason want to make someone else feel bad about themselves. This is also why they get more offended when a neurodivergent person says something that the NT person perceives as judgy. The NT person assumes that the ND person intentionally wants them to feel bad because they project their own behavioural reasoning onto others.

    • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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      1 month ago

      To me, it always feels like what they’re actually saying is “Don’t tell the truth to someone, just be judgy when you talk about or to them.” I share your anger, it’s frustrating how insensitive some people are doggirl-growl

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      1 month ago

      Feels like a lot of NTs make themselves feel better by punching down this way. Almost as if by othering those around them they gain a sense of power and control.

  • DisabledAceSocialist [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    30 days ago

    It’s great being able to get out and go to shops and things again, but nobody is wearing masks and multiple people literally cough and splutter all over me. They don’t even turn their heads away or cover their mouths. Just disgusting.

    Oh and I have a lovely new thing to worry about. I’ve always heard that if i win my benefits case they will check the previous 6 months of my bank accounts. But now I’ve seen threads from disabled people on other sites saying they checked their accounts right from the start of the claim! The disability charity Scope told me it’s OK that some people put money in my paypal account because they said it’s a gift, but I’m not so sure, it might look suspicious, from multiple random people.

    It’s infuriating that so many people think living on disability benefits is the easy choice. Constant assessments, having your payments stopped for no reason, having to beg for food, bank checks and constant worry you’ll be told you’ve done something wrong. Not to mention the endless threats from the government to make it more difficult to claim and to lower payments. What a way to live. All for the crime of getting too sick to work.

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      30 days ago

      People have learned nothing from the pandemic, and kind of seemed to have regressed in caring at all about illness. It’s good to be able to get out of the house, though, even when it can cause anxiety with other people thrown into the mix.

      I hope the payments aren’t used against you for your benefit appeal. It’s ludicrous to enforce such awful circumstances on the disabled for the sake of capital. What are you supposed to do when they don’t even provide you with the means to eat while this appeal process is in motion? Just ludicrous. I hope you get the benefits soon and this unnecessary stress is put behind you quickly.

  • mononoke@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 month ago

    COVID has made a real doomer out of me. As usual, the people taking it seriously now will be the ones to pick up the mess caused by the hubris of those who think they’re built different, your “comrades” included. Silence = death.

    • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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      1 month ago

      It’s almost impossible to stay optimistic when you look at the state of covid treatment - generally speaking. It’s becoming harder and harder to get new vaccination shots where I live, masks are getting more expensive, and even if you manage to get a mask and a shot, people will treat you like you’re infectious when you walk into any place with a mask on. It’s disturbing how quickly the covid denial swept through all branches of society.

      Please don’t give up hope yet, though I know it’s hard, I’m sure there’s some sort of silver lining at the end of the tunnel cuddle

      • mononoke@lemmy.sdf.org
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        1 month ago

        I feel compelled to push back wherever I see complacency about all of this madness, but I can feel it taking its toll. It was Sankara who said we don’t get the luxury of being tired of explaining…but I am very, very tired.

        • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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          1 month ago

          Maybe we shouldn’t treat tiredness as a luxury. I mean, I get what Sankara was saying, but it’s not like you can stay up on your feet forever. We all need breaks, so becoming and being tired is a foregone conclusion. Maybe what we need is shifts in explaining. You can’t do it all on your own, you know?

  • Angel [any]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    I used to get so angry when people falsely accused my text of being AI-generated, but at this point, I really don’t care. It doesn’t help that I use em dashes a good deal—nothing wrong with that!

    • Aradino [they/them, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      1 month ago

      I wish people would realise that ai writes like that because people already wrote like that

      Em dashes are cool. I wish I knew how to use them; though I suppose I could just misuse them like I misuse semicolons

    • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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      1 month ago

      I don’t understand how people think that the use of one textual sign could be indication for an AI text. I’m sorry people accused you of that. Em dashes are amazingly helpful for writing well structured texts and I’m happy to see someone uses them correctly! Most people don’t (and AI doesn’t either).

      • robot_dog_with_gun [they/them]@hexbear.net
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        1 month ago

        people don’t care about that structuring when writing emails or text messages so it’s a signifier of high-effort or formality and they’re harder to type unless you have the automatic override on double hyphens.

        if someone is using emdashes outside of a textbook or institutional report it’s unusual and most people (including me) aren’t writing enthusiasts to pick up on weird grammar or style besides the obvious punctuation mark they usually don’t use.

    • mononoke@lemmy.sdf.org
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      1 month ago

      I am also a big fan of the em dash as one of those dreadful book-readers. Don’t let them shame you out of something that was around before they knew what words were.

  • Keld [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    Now having permission from Gingerbrat to post my whining. Please ignore this if you don’t want to hear about my work woes.

    I was called a slur by a person visiting a patient after I brought them coffee from the staff lounge. They were frustrated and lashed out and I get that, and I need thicker skin, but I’m still offended given that I had literally no involvement with their treatment. I just saw people sitting around and asked who wanted coffee or tea and smuggled it out and my reward was slurs thrown my way.

    • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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      1 month ago

      I love that I’m getting the “Mom said I could” treatment for this comment i-cant

      This is really rude, but sadly not atypical. I’m sorry that instead of a thank you, you got insulted. You deserve better, especially since you were being kind to them cuddle

      • Keld [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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        1 month ago

        Now if people don’t like the post it’s your fault instead doggirl-smart

        I’ve been subject to some abuse before, but always because I was directly involved in care. Getting it for doing someone a favor was new.

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      1 month ago

      It sucks to have someone take out their emotional stuff on you, but that doesn’t excuse using a slur. It shouldn’t have happened and it’s perfectly okay to feel upset at the interaction. You were just trying to help, and that should be appreciated.

  • Wmill [they/them, fae/faer]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    Was cleaning the park yesterday for some exercise post Halloween and yeah almost fell on my butt, got into a swing of picking up wrappers when I had to go up a little pool. Used my hurt ankle to get up without thinking, had to switch feet and step up with my good one.

    More time passes and that fall I had keeps coming back from time to time. Shit sucks I do hope my full mobility returns back to me, I wanna work a job that will probably have me going up and down ladders one day.

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      1 month ago

      Appreciate your service to the park, that’s awesome and I hope you can heal up and get that job you want sooner than later. Sounds like you really have an interest in something specific which is a cool thing to have and strive for!

      • Wmill [they/them, fae/faer]@hexbear.net
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        1 month ago

        Ty I find cleaning up an area I’m at helps with my nerves since being outside so much is tough (not to mention it keeps the cops away from me) I still got HVAC dreams and while I dread getting on a roof I would ideally love to work in restaurants or commercial things

    • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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      1 month ago

      I hope you’ll get our full mobility back soon. Do you have any exercises that can help with that? If not, I hope enough rest will do the trick for you.

      Ladders are amazing tools, you should be able to climb them again meow-hug

      • Wmill [they/them, fae/faer]@hexbear.net
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        1 month ago

        Ty meow-hug I got some things I should be doing to help that I need to get back too, last time I tried working out some attempt at jump rope really hammered home that nah not there yet. It hurt pretty bad for a few days though I was careless to admit and quick to stop it when I noticed the pain.

        • gingerbrat [she/her]@hexbear.netM
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          1 month ago

          Oh no, that sounds painful. Take it easy, please, and don’t hurt yourself trying to get better again. It does sound like you’re making progress though, so keep at it. Slowly but steadily cuddle

  • Keld [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    30 days ago

    The food bank gave me 30 parsnips. They gave me some nice stuff too. But they also gave me 30 parsnips. What do I do with 30 parsnips

    Edit: I’m gonna make hasselback parsnips.

  • Keld [he/him, any]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    Food bank haul was cool. I got a bunch of berries and fresh fruit, a lot of veggies and bean sprouts. Yum yum. Also they wanted to give me a quite large amount of mussels. I feel bad for turning down food at the food bank, but “luckily” someone is always willing to poach anything not vegan you put in the trade pile. I am going to make a salad tomorrow.

  • Veggie_Deluxe [any, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    all i get is bad news. I am just so ready to be done with this motherfucker. I am only alive for the people i fear will come to resent me. my therapist is leaving at the end of the month for maternity leave. I am entering a perfect storm of a bad time.

    • HexaSnoot [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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      1 month ago

      I’m sorry your therapist is leaving on top of all that. If the situation is this dire, could you get a fill in therapist while she’s gone? In the US, even if you’re getting a rarer kind of therapy, Psychology Today’s website has therapists you can filter down to exact kind of therapists and therapy and coverage for you needs.

      My psychiatry office said they couldn’t hook me up to exact therapy resources I need unless they picked a general therapist that, by chance, just happened to be what I want. So I asked around, and turns out my rare kind of therapist are on the website under my insurance.


      Aside from that resource, here’s a Covid-Concious Therapist Directory for both, in and outside of the US and Canada, plus “Brazil - Colombia - France - India - Australia Italy - Ireland - Japan - Malaysia - Mexico - New Zealand - Northern Mariana Islands - Singapore - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom - Trinidad”

      Certain therapists on there can seem pretty leftist. What i don’t like about this website is that I can’t find a way to filter it down to what Psychology Today’s website lets me filter options down to. Filters seem to only ask what state I’m in.

      • Veggie_Deluxe [any, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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        1 month ago

        Thank you for those resources. I’ve been debating trying to find a temp, i just work so well with my current therapist and I’ve had such a difficult time finding people I can feel comfortable working with in that capacity. my current plan was to disconnect from reality as much and as often as possible lol

        • HexaSnoot [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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          1 month ago

          If you’ve got a lot of trauma, repressed rage, anger, depression, etc… I know a person who says they know multiple people that say EMDR changed their life forever. If you’ve got those things, I truly reccomend trying EMDR. People can literally get diseases from not processing grief and more issues from all of these things.

          Imo EMDR is far better than checking out. I can also see it being good for people who think about treating complex trauma through psychedelics, but can’t/don’t want to trip.

        • HexaSnoot [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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          1 month ago

          Maybe you could use this as an opportunity to see if another kind of therapy/therapist will do better. Without my old therapists becoming unavailable I wouldn’t have discovered special kinds of therapy and new therapists, and see which ones do and don’t work for me. I felt comfortable with multiple therapists, but only one has worked as well because they do a special kinds of therapy i haven’t experienced before.

          Think of it as extra experience even if your current therapist is practically perfect.

    • un_mask_me [any]@hexbear.netOPM
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      Sorry it’s all piling on at once. Hexasnoot already gave some great advice, so I won’t add on too much. Hopefully you can find some shelter from the storm soon, and things even out a little bit. Sending positivity your way, comrade, you deserve a good rest.