Ending the Stigma

Just the other day, someone asked me what the most difficult part of my journey living with a different ability has been. Upon reflection, it has been learning how to cope with the mental and emotional struggles associated with living every day with a chronic medical condition. Last week Saturday, October 6, was World Cerebral Palsy Day, and on Wednesday, it was Mental Health Awareness Day.

On Instagram, a fellow CP warrior shared that she was unsure whether she wanted to write a post about how the neurological disorder has impacted her, because Cerebral Palsy and the challenges it has created are her every day.

With that in mind, I would like to propose a question. Why do we reserve awareness days for conditions like CP, and the myriad of struggles that fall under the mental health umbrella to recognize, and in turn initiate conversation about them? Looking back at my own experiences, I would say that there are two reasons for this. One reason is that I was hesitant to be vulnerable and openly share the thoughts and feelings of sadness, anger and exhaustion that I held close and kept deep inside, hidden within the crevasses of my soul, simply because I was afraid of what others might see when they look at me. Positivity slowly became my security blanket. I strongly believe that the second reason for this is that many of us are fearful of judgement.

Naturally, we want to be accepted. As a child, I remember so vividly and distinctly that the last thing I wanted was to be seen as “different” in the eyes of peers and even the adults around me. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned that sometimes, our differences are our biggest teachers. They can also be assets, even if we don’t understand the reason for our challenges right off the bat. The truth is, we may never understand the rhyme and reason behind them. I think that if we did, we wouldn’t have any purpose here, because there would be no reason to search for anything.

I wrote this because I believe that vulnerability is necessary for human survival. It allows us to acknowledge those feelings buried deep inside of us, so that we can feel them in their entirety and slowly begin the process of moving forward. I know wholeheartedly that this something that is definitely easier said than done. I wrote this, because everyone has a story that is as unique as the person who is living that journey. I wrote this, because I want people to know that they are not alone.

What if by sharing your story, you had the power to greatly impact someone’s life? Everyone is fighting a battle that we know absolutely nothing about.

I want to encourage my readers to start those conversations. It does not have to be a special, designated date on the calendar for it to happen. Let’s create a safe environment within ourselves where people feel as though they can freely share what they feel without shame and fear of judgement.

Let’s end the stigma.