Please, Bask In The Glow Of My Hut*

When was the last time you ate or drank something? If it’s been a while (my self-standards are 5-6 hours for food and 1-2 hours for water), please make an effort to get some.

When was the last time you moved? If you’ve been in one position for a while, I suggest perhaps walking around the room a little, moving to a different spot, adjusting the way you’re sitting, or even just stretching your arms.

Are you able to get some fresh air? Is it safe and viable for you to open a window a little or step outside for a moment? If not, may I suggest lighting a nicely scented candle?

How’s your hygiene? If it’s been longer than you’d like, please make a commitment to take care of it soon!

When was the last time you spoke with someone you care about? Consider reaching out to them, and letting them know they’re in your thoughts.

Have you been interacting with things that are damaging to your mental well-being? If you are, please stop! Purposefully interacting with things that cause you emotional or physical distress is incredibly unhealthy, and a form of self-harm.

Do you need to take your medication? If so, please take it.

Are you holding tension in your jaw and shoulders? Relax it.

When was the last time you ate or drank something? If it’s been a while (my self-standards are 5-6 hours for food and 1-2 hours for water), please make an effort to get some.

When was the last time you moved? If you’ve been in one position for a while, I suggest perhaps walking around the room a little, moving to a different spot, adjusting the way you’re sitting, or even just stretching your arms.

Are you able to get some fresh air? Is it safe and viable for you to open a window a little or step outside for a moment? If not, may I suggest lighting a nicely scented candle?

How’s your hygiene? If it’s been longer than you’d like, please make a commitment to take care of it soon!

When was the last time you spoke with someone you care about? Consider reaching out to them, and letting them know they’re in your thoughts.

Have you been interacting with things that are damaging to your mental well-being? If you are, please stop! Purposefully interacting with things that cause you emotional or physical distress is incredibly unhealthy, and a form of self-harm.

Do you need to take your medication? If so, please take it.

Are you holding tension in your jaw and shoulders? Relax it.

When was the last time you ate or drank something? If it’s been a while (my self-standards are 5-6 hours for food and 1-2 hours for water), please make an effort to get some.

When was the last time you moved? If you’ve been in one position for a while, I suggest perhaps walking around the room a little, moving to a different spot, adjusting the way you’re sitting, or even just stretching your arms.

Are you able to get some fresh air? Is it safe and viable for you to open a window a little or step outside for a moment? If not, may I suggest lighting a nicely scented candle?

How’s your hygiene? If it’s been longer than you’d like, please make a commitment to take care of it soon!

When was the last time you spoke with someone you care about? Consider reaching out to them, and letting them know they’re in your thoughts.

Have you been interacting with things that are damaging to your mental well-being? If you are, please stop! Purposefully interacting with things that cause you emotional or physical distress is incredibly unhealthy, and a form of self-harm.

Do you need to take your medication? If so, please take it.

Are you holding tension in your jaw and shoulders? Relax it.

It is not something you can do accidentally, regards of what you're talking about.

You can't accidentally fake depression, or anxiety, or bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, or any other mental illness.

You can't accidentally fake Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, personality disorders.

You can't accidentally fake ADHD, autism, Tourette's Syndrome, auditory processing disorder, aphasia or any other neurodivergence

You can't accidentally fake being trans or ace-spec or aro-spec or any other LGBTQIA+ identity.

You can't accidentally fake chronic illnesses like CFS, fibromyalgia or any chronic illness.

You also can't accidentally fake being good/intelligent at something. You didn't fool your peers into reaching your position.

You can't accidentally fake trauma, PTSD/cPTSD, DID/OSDD/DDNOS or any other trauma-based disorder.

Tldr:

Faking is a conscious choice.

You cannot do it by accident.

People with “minor” disabilities who aren’t sure if they belong in disabled spaces

People who have rare disabilities and don’t see other people with the same disability, even in disabled spaces

People who’ve been told nothing is wrong with them even though is something clearly wrong that now feel like they’re just making stuff up

People who have been dismissed by doctors because they didn’t fit the image the doctor had of what a “sick” person looked like

People who tried to get help for their problem and are still waiting

People who have unaddressed health problems in general

When was the last time you ate or drank something? If it’s been a while (my self-standards are 5-6 hours for food and 1-2 hours for water), please make an effort to get some.

When was the last time you moved? If you’ve been in one position for a while, I suggest perhaps walking around the room a little, moving to a different spot, adjusting the way you’re sitting, or even just stretching your arms.

Are you able to get some fresh air? Is it safe and viable for you to open a window a little or step outside for a moment? If not, may I suggest lighting a nicely scented candle?

How’s your hygiene? If it’s been longer than you’d like, please make a commitment to take care of it soon!

When was the last time you spoke with someone you care about? Consider reaching out to them, and letting them know they’re in your thoughts.

Have you been interacting with things that are damaging to your mental well-being? If you are, please stop! Purposefully interacting with things that cause you emotional or physical distress is incredibly unhealthy, and a form of self-harm.

Do you need to take your medication? If so, please take it.

Are you holding tension in your jaw and shoulders? Relax it.

Hey all! It’s your local disabled Mod Ife! Since it is disability pride month, here is some simple etiquette to keep in mind in your daily interactions with disabled people! 

The Do’s

Do use the word disabled! Disabled is not a bad word! Differently abled or physically challenged often come across as condescending and it is better to just use the word disabled. 

Do try and increase accessibility! A simple way of doing this right now can be adding captions to your posts, or breaking up large blocks of text into smaller paragraphs. 

Do listen to disabled people! If there’s an issue involving disability rights, listen to our voices! There are many of us willing to discuss these issues in depth! (Also understand that every disabled person you meet or admire does not have to give you their in depth opinion on every issue!)

Do talk to or ask questions to the disabled person, not their companions! In most circumstances this is what the person with a disability will prefer, as you talking about them while they are right there is often hurtful (especially if it is coming from a medical professional). 

Do try and see how an individual with a disability refers to themselves. (in example “a person with autism” (person-first language) vs “an autistic person” (identity-first language)) 

There is no real hard and fast rule for this so if you’re meeting someone who is disabled and want to know which they would prefer, if they have a preference, listen to how they refer to themselves!

The Do Not’s

Do not assume that a person who is disabled needs your assistance. While it can be kind to ask if they need help, you shouldn’t just jump in without asking first!

(For example if you see someone struggling to get their wheelchair up a ramp, please ask before just pushing them up!)

(Not only can it be scary and rude to be suddenly grabbed by someone and have no control over your movement, but you never know if that person feels they need to make it up that ramp themselves.)

Do not assume that because you can’t see or determine a person’s disability that they aren’t disabled. There are so many people in this world with invisible disabilities and they don’t need to hear from you that you think they’re faking it.

Do not assume that because a mobility aid isn’t needed constantly and at all times that the person is faking their disability. There are many people with disabilities who need a mobility aid only part of the time!

Do not ask disabled people personal questions about their illness, disability, etc. - particularly in public - and particularly if you don’t know them. Most disabled people are not willing to give you their medical and or mental health history just to satisfy your curiosity.

If you really really need to know, AND you know this particular disabled person, you can ask if it would be ok to ask them questions about their disability.

Do not assume that life with a disability is miserable, or not worth living. People with disabilities can and do lead happy lives!

Do not assume that people with disabilities just need to “try harder” to be “normal”. Disabled people are often already trying their hardest, and to be told that it isn’t enough hurts.