#hegexo

Ugh. If I knew, I would absolutely tell you. Depending on the doctor you have, it can be really, really hard to get someone to actually listen and believe it’s not ‘all in your head.’

The last specialist I talked with suggested both a ‘pain psychologist’ (he completely un-subtly said I was exaggerating/it was psychosomatic) and… spinal surgery. Because of the very clear and physical evidence… that it wasn’t in my head. He was looking at the x-rays, and still said this.

So yeah, you can have very solid, physical evidence, and some people still won’t believe you/take you seriously. The best advice I give is to have this, get your symptoms and conditions documented when you can - and if you’re trying to get help for a physical problem, and especially if it’s something like an autoimmune/dysautonomic or allergy disorder that often overlaps with other conditions/disguises itself/is episodic - try not to associate it with mental/emotional conditions. It’s absolutely shitty, but doctors will try to play it off like it’s all in your head (ie; if you say you have a history of even depression/anxiety, they will say ‘well maybe your pain is coming from your depression. have you tried yoga?? long walks? try eating more blueberries’ - actual suggestion for my skull malformation).

I’m not saying lie, just make it very clear that this is not why you are here. (If there’s a ‘why are you here today’ form, or a ‘reason for visit/symptoms’ form with mental/emotional checklist boxes - don’t check, for the love of God. Not if you don’t think it’s true. (If you do, go ahead, obviously.) But if there’s an easy way out (oh, ur depressed/have a mental disorder? it’s that) it’s likely that doctors will be inclined to take it.

What else… whenever you can, take someone with you to your appointments. My mom and I go together to every single one, both of ours. If you’re in doubt that someone will listen to you, just having someone there to corroborate what you’re saying often helps.

When it’s possible, I bring my dad. (It’s… remarkable how much differently I’m treated when he’s in the room. And kind of discouraging when I think about it. But this is probably the thing that helps the most. I’m really sorry to say this, but that’s… been the most helpful thing. If you’re read as a girl, or trans/gender nonconforming, bring someone who’s read as a man, especially cis, and grown. It sucks. But that’s probably the most practical/immediate suggestion I have.)

If I think of anything else, I’ll add it.

I don’t think casting one actual Egyptian is enough to go around praising the movie for its incredibly accurate casting, especially when in addition to the issue of casting two Indian actors as Ancient Egyptians, there were also real-life Native Americans who took offense to the casting of Mizuo Peck (who is a Japanese/white actress with possibly some Cherokee descent in there) as Sacagawea.

Also, can we not with the “it would have been nice”, as if, ho-hum, it would have been nice if the movie hadn’t cast two Indian actors as Egyptians, but they cast one Egyptian, so why are you being so picky? 

Well that is a lovely question and I am really glad you are thinking about it. :3 The first thing that comes to mind is that I am not sure if a non gendered class environment is the way to go - and I’m so glad you said the word inclusive - because different genders do exist, and are all great. (And as a nonbinary bigender person I thank u.) And saying we’re all the same doesn’t really change anything. So it’s more about showing that all genders are cool and okay to be, and that if kids want to do things outside their assigned genders that is totally okay and wonderful. And expressing them is great, and being mean to others about it definitely isn’t.