Many disabilities that people experience are not easily noticed. Those with disabilities do not always walk with a limp, are not confined to a wheelchair, and do not speak with a slur. I have a friend who has a seemingly hidden disability. The condition he experiences encompasses quite a few medical issues. Doctors cannot find a specific cause. They can only confirm symptoms and the presence of abnormal biological processes. There are too many problems associated with his disease to list them all, but here are the ones that stand out most. His muscles almost never relax. They’re always tense. Simple movement can be extremely painful, as well as simply staying in place. His muscles are almost constantly inflamed and there’s not much that can be done to stop or lessen the pain. He is chronically fatigued, even if he sleeps over ten hours a night for a week. He has allergic reactions to many things, although doctors have concluded he’s not technically allergic to them. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not a stranger to his life. As you can imagine, with the compounding effects of all these things, emotional distress and depression is not foreign for him. His condition is not something that can currently be cured by the doctors of man, only endured. He envies not only those who can run, but also those who can walk around the grocery store, without feeling any pain. Every morning he wins a major victory when he chooses to get out of his bed and face what he knows will be a day full of pain. Some days are better than others, but he still tries to find true joy in each day, and hopes for others to find the same. He has lived this experience for almost a decade, and most people who know him, don’t know about his condition. Daily concealment and Self-Denial have been part of his plan to “overcome” it, but knowledge is the key to helping understand another. You also have a friend with this hidden disability. It’s me.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:01:47 +0000
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