Coffee House Writers

Top Menu

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Article Categories
    • Creativity
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fiction
    • Food
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Home
    • Lifestyle
    • Memories
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Politics
    • Relationships
    • Sports
    • Style
    • Technology
    • Travel
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Founder
  • Meet Our Admin
    • Chief Editors
    • Editors
    • Poetry Editors
    • Advertising Team
    • Recruiting Team
  • Testimonials
  • Apply
  • Login

logo

Coffee House Writers

  • Home
  • Article Categories
    • Creativity
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fiction
    • Food
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Home
    • Lifestyle
    • Memories
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Politics
    • Relationships
    • Sports
    • Style
    • Technology
    • Travel
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Founder
  • Meet Our Admin
    • Chief Editors
    • Editors
    • Poetry Editors
    • Advertising Team
    • Recruiting Team
  • Testimonials
  • Apply
  • Login
  • The North Wind – Part 9

  • Youngster

  • Parenting My Way With No Regrets

  • Cracks and Holes

  • Until Forever, Part One

  • The Mystery of Cash Castle: Part 12

  • I want to fly

  • Prayers of Lament and Gratitude

  • Circumstantial Truths

  • Bloom Everlasting

  • Ma Millie-5

  • Husband

  • Leap Year Killer

  • Making Peace With My Adopted Self

  • Platinum Moments

  • Evolution of Romance Novels: Part 1

  • Fairytale

  • The North Wind – Part 8

  • English Class

  • A Beetle Called Bertha

  • The Island Flamingo: Part 11

  • Mr. Keith’s House – Part V

  • Ma Millie-4

  • Mikligarður

  • Bloom Anew

  • Where is my wife Stacey?

  • My Teen Begged for Help and My World Stood Still

  • 8 Best Uses For Peppermint Oil

  • A New Journey

  • Cessation

EnvironmentHealthCulture
Home›Environment›Make Your Own Way

Make Your Own Way

By Stephanie Wyatt
June 10, 2019
1200
0
Share:
Path,pathways,journey
Photo by PublicDomainPictures courtesy of Pixabay

Two years ago I kept seeing this post on Facebook with a list of things that people should stop telling people with chronic illness to do because it’ll make them better. The list included things like Yoga, exercise, eating better, more sleep, etc. It was basically a list of common things people suggest when a person isn’t pleased with their appearance, not a list for someone whose body cannot physically function that way because of a chronic illness or disability. I understood the outrage from those who posted about it and left it alone.

I have also been on the receiving end of a well-meaning stranger who said that if I go to this particular hospital, and meet with a certain doctor they would be able to help me walk. I listen, politely tell them “thank you”. Many people have said similar things to me with no results.

Then I would wheel on my merry way, shaking my head at their presumptions, like my parents hadn’t already considered every option possible at the time.

The post enraged me every time I saw it, but not for the reason one might think. Most people might think I would be angry because the suggestions are everyday solutions that don’t account for what a specific chronic illness or disability might target. However, the thing that made me angry was even though the everyday solutions won’t cure you of your medical diagnosis, some of those suggestions could help with alleviate some of the difficulties one might face with a chronic illness\disability. I feel like you think I’m being judgmental, but just hear me out.

Obviously, telling someone who suffers from insomnia to sleep more is ridiculous. Their brain chemistry doesn’t allow them to sleep. However, there could be some natural remedies they could try that are relatively inexpensive if they’ve tried them, or it’s not cost effective for the results someone has then that’s fine to tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

I think people automatically dismiss holistic remedies because they typically require a bit more maintenance than going to a medical doctor who can just give you a prescription. I’m not saying holistic medicine will solve all of your problems, some problems do require hospitals and medications. However, there are other options. You just have to be willing to look.

I’ll give you an example from my own experience, I have Cerebral Palsy, and one of the treatments to help manage that is physical therapy. I think when I was in high school I had a physical therapist let me go as a patient because I didn’t do the exercises she asked me to do at home.

Then they opened a Fitness Center with adaptive equipment so I went there instead of physical therapy for a little while. I would go 1-2 times a week during the times I was consistent. It was also inexpensive so I paid for it out of my own money. I was actually in shape. I still couldn’t put myself to bed, or take myself to the bathroom but I felt better about myself physically. Then senior year I went back to Physical Therapy to prepare for college. I can’t remember if I was let go again or my therapist left.

Either way, I went to a different therapy clinic and had an awesome Physical Therapist who not only understood me as a patient but as a person as well. I graduated and went away to college where I realized with the right set up, I could be relatively independent. Flash forward a few years, I live in a studio with my best friend and a dog in a small studio 20 minutes by bus to downtown Chicago.

I don’t have an accessible shower and my aide who is my roommate has to help me with basically everything. The one thing I do have, though, is the ability to get myself back into shape so I can be more independent. I can’t get to the local Fitness center right now so I do YouTube seated workouts videos at home.

I know working out isn’t possible for everyone. I’m not saying it is by any means. I just want people to realize just because you are chronically ill or disabled it doesn’t mean you have to automatically dismiss every suggestion because while that exact course of action doesn’t work, it might lead you to something that actually can help make your life easier.

You just have to find your way. It’ll be frustrating at first because it might not be as easy as you think, but when you find your way you might be able to make another person’s path easier in the future. Shouldn’t everyone just cater to everyone else’s needs? It would be nice, but the world, unfortunately, doesn’t work like that so you have to make your own way.

TagspathessayLife styleFitnessholistic medicineAdvicecourseChronic Illnessdisabilityjourneyknowing myselfPhysical Disabilities
Previous Article

Manson Cult Member Leslie Van Houten Denied ...

Next Article

Victor’s Pawn

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Stephanie Wyatt

I have Cerebral Palsy and use a wheelchair. I grew up in Fort Wayne but currently live in Chicago with my dog Ama Angelica, and my best friend. I love to write and read YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories. Anything else you want to know just ask!

Related articles More from author

  • EntertainmentLifestyleRelationshipsMemoriesEnvironmentHealth

    Hello Old Friend

    March 15, 2021
    By Stephanie Wyatt
  • LifestyleNonfictionHealthCultureHome

    March Is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month: Here Are 31 Facts About CP

    March 30, 2020
    By Sarah Sweeney
  • NonfictionMediaCreativityTechnologyEntertainment

    What Happens After You Start A YouTube Channel?

    July 29, 2020
    By Lindsey Taylor
  • CultureRelationshipsLifestyleEnvironmentNonfictionHealthSports

    Finding A ‘Fit

    August 10, 2020
    By Sarah Sweeney
  • CultureNonfictionFamilyHealthRelationshipsMemoriesLifestyle

    Dear Cerebral Palsy

    April 13, 2020
    By Sarah Sweeney
  • books
    MemoriesHealthHomeLifestyleTechnologyCultureMediaFashionCreativityDesignFamilyFictionEntertainment

    Finding My New Dream

    July 15, 2019
    By Cait Marie

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You may be interested

  • couple
    RelationshipsPoetryHomeEntertainmentCultureRomanceCreativityFamily

    Mine

  • RelationshipsFictionMemoriesEntertainmentLifestyleEnvironmentTravelCultureRomanceCreativityFantasy

    Throne Of Stardust – Part 4

  • Shadowy man by Free-Photo on Pixabay
    CreativityFictionEntertainment

    Myra – Part 1

Timeline

  • March 20, 2023

    The North Wind – Part 9

  • March 20, 2023

    Youngster

  • March 20, 2023

    Parenting My Way With No Regrets

  • March 20, 2023

    Cracks and Holes

  • March 20, 2023

    Until Forever, Part One

Latest Comments

  • Jill Grinnell
    on
    March 13, 2023
    Lovely

    I want to fly

  • Ritu Anand
    on
    March 13, 2023
    Thank you so much Vikash.

    I want to fly

  • Vikash Goyal
    on
    March 13, 2023
    Beautiful writing!

    I want to fly

  • The Different Types of Science Fiction - E. M. Sherwood Foster
    on
    March 11, 2023
    […] My serial publication The North Wind at Coffee House Writers! Part 1 is here. […]

    The North Wind – Part 1

  • A Beetle Called Bertha, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine – Ivor.Plumber/Poet
    on
    March 6, 2023
    […] Hello dear readers and followers, I now write for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a ...

    A Beetle Called Bertha

Find us on Facebook

About us

  • coffeehousewriters3@gmail.com

Follow us

© Copyright 2018-2022 Coffee House Writers. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s administrator and owner is strictly prohibited.