Margie is absolutely right. Although I don't consider myself as "disabled" in the eyes of the government I am so, as Margie said, perception is everything. The key to it (I think) is how the individual deals with their situation. Me personally I get up each day and act like anybody else. . .I love working around the house (which my new job allows me to do more often), I love cooking (especially Italian and Chinese) and, don't forget, I'm a firefighter. About the only difference between myself and my colleagues is that I do a reduced amount of interior firefighting to lessen the chance of injury to my head (even though I'm fully bunkered out). Normally I assist the Fire Apparatus Operator (driver) laying out hose, hooking up to the hydrant, etc. If I didn't approach my job in that fashion, how could I post this (and really mean it):



I love stenuous activity. . .pulling, pushing, lugging and I love that contented fatigue that come after you get done!

Walter

HI LINDA ..IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU JOIN US HERE..WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THE DISABLED AT YOUR OFFICE?..I'D LOVE TO KNOW..AND I AM PLAESED TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP OTHERS ..THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT..IF WE AREN'T WILLING TO HELP ..HOW CAN WE EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO..?..AGAIN WELCOME TO YOU AND WE HOPE TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU..THANKS MARGIE

I too have an emotional disability. I'm schizoaffective. Basically I've graduated from Peer Support where I learned about problems I have and set up goals on what I need to do to help myself deal with my disabilities. Included are many topics - steps to solve problems; what you need to learn to do so you can live on your own; information about different emotional disabilities. There are many topics included like how to cope with sreess. Included are Scizophrenia, bipolar,anxiety, Depression, and other Chemical Imbalance in my brain. I haven't spent much time working in this area lately. I've been busy on my computer and learning about Chirst and how I can apply the scriptures to me. Also I go to see Doctors, a physical therapist, and doing every day work - cooking, washing clothes, washing dishes, and paying bills. I do try to spend time dealing with becoming positive, etc. I've learned I can teach and get paid for it, something I'd given up on. Now if I want to I can take a two week course and cram for a State Exam and work part time with a Peer Support Program. One of the things that was supposed to be included in Peer Support was how to use a computer. My husband has started teaching me how to use the computer. So now I spend my time at home keeping busy. I have posted a blogg on my page telling about the fact that I'm more than a surviver of my disability and have gone on. I also am a diabetic and have arthritis thru out my body. I'm not working for pay, but I do have a life of my own. I'm doing more than eating and sleeping which I've known other emotionally ill people do. Plus I'm married and have a cat and have just taken in a dog who a friend took in who was in a car accident. If anyone wants information on some of these topiccs or in the same area I may be able to help. walterslady50

HI WALTERS LADY.. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING IT TOGETHER FOR YOURSELF..THAT'S SO AWESOME..CONGRATULATIONS..IT ISN'T EASY TO OVER COME ANY DISABILITY...EVERY STEP THAT YOU MAKE BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO..OR TO BECOME..KEEP DOIN WHAT YOU ARE DOIN AND ALWAYS REMEMBER WE'RE HERE IF YA EVER NEED SUPPORT..EVERY DISABILITY HAS AN EMOTIONAL SIDE TO IT THAT MUST BE OVER COME TO GROW AND BE WHO YOU ARE..GLAD YOU JOINED US THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT

Ms Pumpkin thanks for replying so quickly. Also thanks for your positive statements you wrote. I'll be back. walterslady50

This is a passage from the book I just finished. "Then one day a few momths into treatment,it all became too much .... I was tired of it all; and I didn't understand why I had to go through any of this, or how it was saving me. The gentle calming words touched me in a very prsonal way, when she told me she was a survivor. If she can make it ....then why can't I? I had a whole new perspective on my future. Until that moment, I had never thought of myself as a posible surviver. I'd been so lost in my own trouble.... The example that she set, gave me the strength and determination not only to make it through my treatment, but to become a survivor myself. " This is basically how I felt when I found out I was not going to be stuck in a mental hospital or group home, but could live a fairly normal life by myself or with Walter. I've been out of a hospital environment 6and!/2 years now. And the only reason I went then, was because I grew tired of taking insulin 4 times a day. {Plus I wanted to get away from my husband for awhile.} Not Walter. Now I've gone past being a survivor, and as long as I take my medicine I can live a fairly normal life. With Walter, it's more than a normal life, it's paradise. I really am happy I married him; and I have been happier than I have ever been. It's not all due to him though. Part of it is because I've gone past being just a survivor. Mary

HI MARY.. THAT WAS GREAT..I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.. I HAD DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING TO HAVING A DISABILITY..MINE WAS SUDDEN AND I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE..ONE DAY I WAS DELIVERING FURNITURE AND THE NEXT I WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIR.. FEELING SO SORRY FOR MYSELF I COULD HAVE DIED..FEELING COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED.. I HAD SOME AWESOME SUPPORT AND ONE STEP AT A TIME TAUGHT ME THAT I COULD DO ANYTHING I PUT MY MIND TO..AND AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE.. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT DISABLED PEOPLE GO THRU THAT I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY FORTUNATE AND I AM A DIFFERENT PERSON...A BETTER PERSON FOR IT, CERTAINLY MORE COMPASSIONATE..HAD I NOT GONE THRU ALL THIS I WOULD NOT BE HERE TALKING WITH YOU TONIGHT..AND FOR THAT I THANK GOD EVERY DAY..MARGIE

. . .is an awesome lady! As I've told her, she actually does more than most people who are 100 percent healthy! Once she completes her current physical theraphy to limber her up again I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up with her!

Walter

Do you realize that only 10-15% of disabled people were born with their disability? Most people who are disabled became disabled due to an accident or an illness. The older you get the higher your probability of becoming disabled. 67% of disabled people are over 65. Some older people never become disabled at all but the majority of us will have some kind of disability before we die. We can make a difference now for those already disabled and for those of us who will be at some point in our lives. Are you treated differently because of your disability? Have you been discriminated against because of your disability? How will being disabled affect how you live your life into old age. Will you be able to live alone? Will there be anyone there to help with the things you cannot do? Will your income pay your bills? Are there agencies that can help you that you may not know about? These are all valid questions we need to address now before they become emergency situations..If you have questions or problems talk to us..if we don't know, we will do all we can to find out and answer those questions.And since this is a forum we can pool our mind power and someone else may know the answer to help you.. so join us and lets have fun together.