Sunday, March 18, 2018

Making My Illness Work For Me, Not Me Working For My Illness....

     I'm disabled, so what does that mean? 4 out of 5 people are touched by
mental illness to some degree. At least that's what the professionals say. But,
you would think that there would be sympathy and understanding about 
those with a diagnosis. And yet, there is even a hierarchy of those who 
consider themselves disabled. 

     Consider the savant, they are cherished with the means and understanding
of lists, without paper..but, currency is not their specialty. There is down 
syndrome, where their always smiling faces bringing sunshine to those that
witness it. Then there are those with OCD. They seem harmless right? But, 
even mental illness has status levels. It would be bipolar over schizophrenic, 
and schizophrenic over multiple personalities. Then there is the brain damaged
compared to those with uncontrollable epilepsy...If I have forgotten other  
diagnoses, please forgive me.

     What I am trying to say, I guess, is that these diagnoses follow you wherever
you go. You cannot escape it and it is not curable. But, there are avenues
that you can follow, to go back to the working classes and succeed. Like, 
the savant, can work in a warehouse, the down syndrome can work in 
customer service...there are opportunities available if you just find the right
connection. 


Vocabulary ABC's of the Mentally Ill....

Becoming Employed