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fucked up how colors look different depending on what screen you’re looking at them on. that should be illegal I think

Please don't ask me for relationship advice unless you are prepared to receive some truly upsetting information because some people are ready for the "He's exhibiting the literal textbook signs of a psychological abuser and you need to get away from him before he successfully cuts you off from your support network" talk and some people aren't

Tips to make showering easier when you are physically disabled:

Since every list titled something along the lines of “top 10 tips to make showering easier for disabled people” is only helpful for mental disabilities and is barely anywhere near useful when it comes to physical disabilities, allow me to introduce you to my list of “tips to make showering easier and less painful for those with physical disabilities”

Shower chair/stool: this allows you to sit in the shower without having to sit on the floor of the tub, which can be a difficult position to stand up from and can just cause more pain, especially in knees. They're relatively cheap on Amazon

Install railings and grab bars: these can help getting in and out of the shower, as well as help to stand up if you decide to sit. Alternatively, if you fall, there's a chance you can grab one and save yourself from hitting your head or otherwise seriously injuring yourself

Use the hottest water you can stand: heat is good for pain treatment, especially when it comes to muscle pain. Just remember that the hot water doesn't last forever. EDITING TO ADD, DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU HAVE POTS OR ANY OTHER CONDITION THAT INCREASES YOUR SENSITIVITY TO HEAT AND RISK OF FAINTING!!!!!

Changing tables or low shelves: having all your needed things available to you at a level that you can reach easily while sitting and also does not involve reaching up as much is always good. You can have stands placed in your shower for hair products, body wash, etc, and/or small tables just outside the shower/bath that you may need but don't want to get/ can’t get wet

Give yourself a lot of time: if you can, plan your showers for times when you will have a lot of free time, both so you can take your time in the shower and so that you can give yourself plenty of time to rest after the fact. Especially helpful for those with chronic pain and/or chronic fatigue 

Drink water!: before getting into the shower, drink lots of water! The heat will dehydrate you and make you light headed, so make sure you are properly hydrated beforehand. If you’re like me and you’re prone to dehydration, bring a cold water bottle into the shower with you. Bonus points if it's insulated so now matter how heat and steamy the bathroom gets the water stays nice and cool. Also make sure to drink cold water after getting out of the shower too

Have places to rest your arms and lean: if you can't keep your arms raised for very long, make sure you have places to rest your arms and/or elbow while washing your hair/body. Could be shelves you install, the edge of the showers built in shelves, the faucet or tap, etc. Alternatively, if you sit on the floor of the bathtub you can lean your head back and rest your elbow on the sides of the tub

Keep a dry cloth just outside the shower: it's often easier to use aids like handrails with dry hands, so keep a small dry cloth or two just outside the shower, easily in reach but where it will stay dry. Use it to dry off your hands so you have a better grip. Can also be helpful if you have soap dripping towards your eyes lol

Mindfulness: I KNOW, I KNOW! Trust me, I know. I despised the idea when it was brought up to me. First heard about it in my DBT group and figured it would be no help, especially for my chronic pain. But honestly, allowing yourself to focus on anything outside of your body is great. Focus on the sound of the water. Focus on the feeling of the water raining down on you. The feeling of the water on your skin. It can even be helpful to focus on and allow yourself to feel the pain rather than trying to distract from it or hide it

Lie down right after your shower: as soon as you get out of the shower and dry off just a little, lie down. I personally find this especially helpful for my back and shoulder pain, as after sitting or standing the muscles and bones can feel tight and compacted; lying down gives your body time to decompress.

Time your shower with your pain meds: time it so that you go into your shower right around when your pain meds are kicking in. For example, Advil typically takes 30 minutes to kick in, so plan to shower 30-45 minutes after taking some. Same with any other pain meds you take

Please reblog and add your own!!!!!!! lets compile a whole long list of tips and tricks to make our lives easier!

I lost my god-damned job this morning. Hated that place, but still cried. They let me work two weeks before they told me at the end of my shift today.

Haven't been home in two months but had to pack up my shit and bring back as much of it as I could. This sucks ass. I hate it here.

I never want to work again.

Especially for a place like Wal-Mart.

I now have insurance and can start the process of autism and ADHD screenings.

There are a few problems though.

I don't know where to start

They take forever

The insurance is through my job, but I want to quit. If I quit, no more insurance

I just told my partner of over a year that I've been looking into both an autism and an ADHD diagnosis.

It did not go too well.

Nothing has changed. My 165-195 range of raads-r scores didn't suddenly make me a different person just because he knows now. I think we're still together but I want to scream.

Fatigue and Hopelessness is NOT AN OPTION

from Rahma Zein, 14/Jan/2024:

Do not be divided. Speak up for Palestine.

Welcome, esteemed guests! Tonight's mental shit show will feature stories such as:

"I've Convinced Myself That All of my Co-workers Hate my Guts and Want me Gone! Do They have a Reason? Probably! But it Wouldn't Matter if They Didn't!"

Brought to you by the Rsd/ Undiagnosed ADHD foundation, The Slow Workers Union, and the Corporation for Teaching Autistics Social Cues.

Followed by: "I'm Trying to Keep Myself From Soiling my Pants and Keep Them From Falling"

Funded by: The Lactose Intolerant Idiot Research Fund, The People Who bought Their Pants Size Too Big and Lost Weight so They Feel Even Bigger Council, and The Belt Hater Advocacy Group

And for the Finale: "They're Making me Work Faster Than I Normally Would and I Can Barely Keep Up. My Body is Tired, and I Want to Quit. I Just Want to Go Home and Do Nothing More Than Sleep for a Year or Two."

Sponsored by: The PRMMI (People's Republic of Mistki and Mommy Issues), Tired Autistics Running on Energy Drinks and Daydreams Inc., www.No-I-wont-go-to-therapy-ill-keep-venting-here.org, and viewers like you :)

Please silence all devices, take any crying children outside, and enjoy the show.

Sometimes, I don't want to heal. Healing almost feels like a betrayal to myself. I know what they've done, and the damage will never be fully healed. It almost scares me to think that I might forget or become numb to it. As long as the wounds stay open, and I still feel the burning pain, it's real. I can't trick myself into thinking it's not.

There are other times when I don't want to heal because people might not believe me. I've already plenty who don't, but it would be so much worse if someone saw evidence of my trauma but didn't believe me because the rest of my personality and coping mechanisms seem normal. If I stay broken, the smaller cracks are less noticable, and they're easier to explain. Obviously, a shattered window is going to have both big and small cracks and might even be missing some pieces.

Sometimes healing just doesn't seem worth it because I feel like my life should be perfect once I'm past that point. People have it worse, and the worst is behind me, so I have no right to be this way.

I don't know. I'm not sure I want to heal

Abusive parents will program you so extensively, that when you’re asked:

‘What have your parents done to you?’

the only thing you know how to answer is:

‘They gave me the roof over my head and clothed me and fed me.’

Because that’s whats repeated to you almost every day of your life to be grateful for, you don’t have the words to describe the devastating abuse and hatred, because they don’t want you to have the words for it. All they teach you to say is ‘I’m grateful and it could have been so much worse’.

That’s how nobody can ever find out about the abuse. They make sure the children won’t know how to answer even if asked.