by Missy O | Aug 31, 2022 | Challenging Beliefs, Community
I have been really struggling the last week with my disability, so this post may look a little different from normal. After the writing conference I went to, I could feel some strain injuries in my shoulders and pectoral muscles. When my monthly seizure window joined the party, I really avoided writing or doing much besides listening. I watched YouTube videos ranging from many creators complaining about double standards to tarot card readings from some of my favorite readers to listening to therapists talk about how to improve your life.
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by Missy O | Aug 24, 2022 | Accessibility, Advocacy, Broken But Good, Community
In my last blog I talked about preparing for a writing conference. Now, I’ve come back from that writing conference which was centered on the idea of using writing to change the world. While I enjoyed the conference and will probably share insights I learned in coming weeks, I realize that being able to go to the conference took a lot of effort to overcome the issues my disability provided. I ended up making choices multiple times between taking part with everyone else and taking care of my health. Because of that, I wanted to cover ways we can overcome the barriers our disability creates so we can take part in more things that matter to us.
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by Missy O | Aug 17, 2022 | Advocacy, Community
Self-care is a booming industry, especially as many people are facing burn out. While many of the things that first come to mind with self-care are expensive, there is self-care that is inexpensive and helps us to care for our needs. This is especially true when you live with less energy available to you. That act of self care is learning to set boundaries. Most people aren’t taught how to set boundaries and may even view it as a selfish move that moves them away from others. However, when you set good boundaries, you can actually allow yourself to be closer to others without sacrificing yourself.
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by Missy O | Aug 10, 2022 | Broken But Good
I love tabletop role-playing games for two reasons: the fun game mechanics and collaborative storytelling. At the table, the dice determine how well you do. It creates moments where a character made to be brilliant can fail while the person who threw a roll for the hell of it can succeed. In life, like at the table, we have setbacks. When you live with a disability, those setbacks can have a bigger impact.
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by Missy O | Aug 3, 2022 | Advocacy, Challenging Beliefs
Many people with chronic illness have stories about doctors who dismiss health concerns, chalk everything up to their chronic illness, or are told their illness is all in their head. When you just receive a diagnosis or are trying to get a problem diagnosed, it’s easy to forget about the power that you have in your medical journey. While doctors are experts in their field, you are an expert in your own body. The best working relationships come when the doctor and the patient work as a team. The quality of the doctor you find is all a matter of luck, but you can take some action to protect your health when you are struggling to find a supportive medical provider.
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