brianna-albers
Forum Replies Created
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That’s a great point about the tattoo being slightly off – I’m usually situated pretty well in my manual chair, but it’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind if I end up going that route. I’m glad your tattoo worked out well though! I bet the artist thought twice the next time someone asked them to accommodate. 😂 And yes, it’s my first!
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Unfortunately, I don’t really feel comfortable choosing someone else, as I’ve looked into most of the tattoo shops in MPS and none of the artists have a compatible art style. I’m going to email the artist though and see if she’s willing to accommodate me somehow – fingers crossed! I’m so glad things worked out for you though. Gives me hope that something positive can come out of this experience!
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Thanks so much, Halsey! I appreciate it. I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated!
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It’s so frustrating! Though I’m glad you’ve been able to find a workaround – it doesn’t sound ideal, but at least it works for you! And that’s a good idea! My only concern is that she hasn’t seemed very open to alternatives. I’ll probably ask, but my main concern is that she’ll get frustrated with me and everything will fall through.
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I write everything via on-screen keyboard, so I completely understand how tiring and time-consuming it can be. That’s awesome though! It really is amazing how people connect over an emotionally-charged situation – the written word can be so powerful!
I totally understand that. I was just talking to my therapist yesterday about how rare it is for me to feel anything but awkward when I’m around people. I have a small group of friends I’m comfortable with, but I’m working on getting over the social anxiety of being around people so I can pursue the kind of connection I’m looking for. But I’m glad you’ve kept in touch with people from college and that social media has been a resource for you! In my experience, every little bit helps.
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Thanks, Ryan! And I bet! I’ve found that being in community with other disabled people can be helpful, especially if you share a condition. It’s nice being able to talk about things you have in common.
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That’s a huge part of it for me. Logically, I know that my friends would never look down on me because I’m disabled, but it’s hard to feel and live out that knowledge.
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Thank you for saying this! Sometimes you just need people in the same boat as you to set you straight. I appreciate it 😊
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Same here! It’s hard to bring up because it feels like an admission of abnormality on my part.
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I also feel bad for ruining the fun! A few years ago, I went to the Renaissance Festival with a few friends and had to bow out (gracelessly) because I just couldn’t handle the terrain. I felt awful and was anxious about it for quite a while, even though I’ve known these friends for years.
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I’ve definitely gotten better at communicating my needs. Some of my friends even go so far as to predict what might or might not work for me – I reconnected with an old friend from college and was pleasantly surprised when she asked what would work best for me in terms of hanging out. It was such a small thing, but it went a long way.
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Thanks Adnan! That means a lot. 😊 It’s hard being sad during the holidays because it feels like everyone around you is happy – it’s almost like you have to feel nothing but joy the entire time. But I try and remember that my sadness just means I’m longing for connection, which is a normal part of life and just as healthy as joy. It’s not easy though!
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I’m glad you’re finding joy in discovering all those movies!! That’s great. My parents and I usually try and watch at least one holiday movie, but this year (still not used to 2019 yet) we watched LOTR, which was just as enjoyable. It’s all about what makes you happy!
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That’s great! We visited my cousin and her husband in SC last month, which was fun – we hadn’t seen her in about a year, so it was great catching up with her.
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Yes to holiday music! 🙌 I put together a playlist of my favorite holiday music this year, which was pretty fun. I’m glad you’re able to spend time with your family though – that’s always important!
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I state in my profile that I’m disabled (but in a cheeky way, so it’s not a complete downer), but even then people seem surprised when I mention disability. I have to wonder if they even read my profile, or if they swiped solely because of my pictures.
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I feel this so much! I’m part of a Facebook group for singles in my spiritual community and a lot of the members have said similar things. It’s so frustrating.
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It’s not really for me either! I’ve found it to be pretty discouraging. But I’m just stubborn enough to not give up. 😂
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It’s so time-consuming! And you get so many emails, which only clutters my mind and gives me more anxiety. 😂 At this point, I’m just experimenting with it, trying not to get my hopes up. Even if it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s a great way to meet other people, as you said.
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I’m so glad your family and friends come to visit you! In my opinion, it makes things so much easier.
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I hate being bundled up too! I’ve slowly started to figure out what kind of layering keeps me warm without sacrificing too much range of motion, but when I’m home I hang out in a t-shirt.
Those craft days sound like a blast! I’ve recently started hosting bimonthly get-togethers with my D&D group (two of the members live in Illinois and Indiana), and it’s had an amazing impact on my mental health.
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Great column, Ryan! So sorry to hear how your LDR ended – I haven’t been in one, but I’ve been in “situationships” that didn’t end well, so I feel your pain. Hopefully, both of us will find someone eventually!
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I agree with you that staying in can be just as detrimental as going out! I was recently in SC on vacation and I realized that my headaches and chest tightness weren’t as bad as usual because I was more active, so I’m hoping to find a balance between activity and safety this winter. I’m glad you have that community!
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That’s so great that you have such a robust community! I still have some ties with my gaming community but have been struggling to find accessible games to play, so that’s kind of fallen by the wayside. I’ve actually looked into writing groups and didn’t find much in my area (i.e., the suburbs), but I stopped looking partly because of social anxiety, so I’m hoping to start looking again ASAP. Thanks for the recommendations!