Finding Hope with Chronic Disabilities

Start small. Try to figure out what you like and don't like. Feelings are a great teacher to learn about yourself. If you get angry or sad or whatever feeling try to further explore the feeling. Maybe try to carve out some time for yourself to explore yourself on a regular basis. Try to connect with others. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has a lot of resources and can probably connect you with peer support groups/programs where you can connect with others like you. You could also try some mental health workbooks or something on your own if you aren't comfortable yet participating with a group

He calls me names. And puts me down for everything I say and do. Has been for yearsx. Thank God I bought myself a vehicle with my divorce money otherwise I'd be stuck in the country with nothing.

Ughhhh thiiisss! 😥😥🙄🙄 I'm Soo struggling right now with this. It seems I have been for quite some time. It's like I can't never catch a break something always comes up to set me back. I just went thru a narcissist divorce and still having to live with the fuck so I'm having a hard time. I'm very sick and dont know my way thru life alone. I've never been alone. So idk how or why? Or even if I wanna be alone. I have nobody else. Im severly depressed. I have really bad anxiety I relapsed at the 1st of our seperation after 7yrs sober. I bounced out of it no worries. Sober now. But I can't figure me out. I feel like a loser.

I still mask my autisum and struggle with PTSD. I find it really relaxing to draw? Is there something that relaxes you?

No advice but can absolutely commiserate! I’ve had such a hard time figuring out who I really am amidst everything

You are definitely not alone. I have C-PTSD and several chronic disabilities as well, and feel really stuck. Even though people will say, you've come so far, I have such a hard time acknowledging my positive changes. So any advice from anyone would be highly appreciated by me as well.

I’ve learned it’s all about curiosity and the little things. The amount of times over the last few years that I’ve been really confused by another’s healthy behavior, beliefs, relationships etc because my own have been so tainted… having the curiosity and courage to say I’m still learning, I’m re-learning myself, and asked for support was a lot. Then it’s deciding to acknowledge you’re growth even the smallest bit each day. Easier said than done, it’s hard. You can do it

Okay so I'm definitely no expert at any of this, but I'm going to share some thoughts and ideas from my perspectives, as an Alike. For me, learning about myself and unmasking has to be a very conscious decision. I had to try new stims and new sensory practices to see if they worked for me, and sometimes i have to remind myself that it's okay to use them. As for setbacks from other health issues, I've had some, too, and I know how much they can suck and kinda make one feel powerless. For example, my chronic pain links back to my trauma pretty heavily, so pain flares led to intrusive memories and emotional flashbacks. I just try to be kinder to myself, and I'm trying to figure out how to reprogram my brain to not be mean. Even earlier today I called myself a dummy in my head, which is mild but not ideal. I just try to correct myself and find a more constructive term. I don't know if any of that counts as advice, but at least you're not alone. We may have different struggles, but we're similar in that we struggle at all. Good luck with rediscovering yourself.