Over the past decade and more, I have developed chronic and ongoing encounters with three incurable and disruptive illnesses (Meniere’s Disease, TMD and CP/CPPS – none terminal), that eventually necessitated an incorporation of ‘disability’ into my self-identification. Partial deafness, constant jaw and pelvic pain, and urinary problems. It took me some years before I both accepted a ‘disabled’ label–and was willing to share it with others. Such is the tenacious stigma and social shame around such terms.
But the difficulties have required acknowledgement and adjustment and (for me) reduced productivity and focus. There are costs to illness and disability. This is not an uncommon scenario amongst writers–see my list of blogs below on writing through various disabilities. (And for a longer take on the power of labels, e.g. ‘Disability’ versus ‘Differently Abled, etc., please see my list of blogs below.)
For anyone interested, there is a fascinating book by Arthur Frank (2013) called The Wounded Storyteller, which addresses how people try and create narrative meaning from the chaos of illness. Another source of help for me has been the ACT model, (i.e. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). This focuses on ‘Mindfulness’ and Acceptance (rather than denial or avoidance of) illness and pain has been heralded as important factors in learning to cope with many conditions.
For anyone interested, there is a fascinating book by Arthur Frank (2013) called The Wounded Storyteller, which addresses how people try and create narrative meaning from the chaos of illness. Another source of help for me has been the ACT model, (i.e. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). This focuses on ‘Mindfulness’ and Acceptance (rather than denial or avoidance of) illness and pain has been heralded as important factors in learning to cope with many conditions.
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