Insights, Blogs & News
IDA’s 2014 Invisible Disabilities Week in Denver and Online
Join the Invisible Disabilities Association for our 2014 Invisible Disabilities Week Online! Together, we can bring awareness, education and support to your neighborhood and around the world! Invisible Disabilities Week on Facebook – Invisible Disabilities Week on Google+ – Invisible Disabilities Week Website 10 Ways to Participate Now and Through October 25th:
The Loneliness of Illness and Pain
“You’re lucky you don’t have to work!” “You’re just giving up!” “You need to get out more!” When we break a leg, are we better off hopping on it or using crutches? Right after having major surgery, would we recover better if we went hiking or if we rested a bit in the hospital? We all know the answer to those questions. Otherwise, there would be mountain slopes instead of gurneys outside of every operating room. When dealing with a broken leg, it heals and the person returns to life as usual. On the other hand, for many living with […]
My Disability May Be Invisible, But I’m Not
But you don’t look sick.” “But you LOOK good.” “It’s all in your head.” “You just want attention.” When most people are sick with the flu or a fever, they become pale and droopy and their hair is in a tussle. Therefore, when we meet someone who tells us he or she is ill or has an invisible disability, but he or she does not appear to be sick or in pain, we are often perplexed. Despite their appearance, we must realize that there is a difference between having a temporary cold or the flu and living day after […]
It’s Your Own Fault
Have you ever heard the words, “Well, what do you expect?” when someone learns that a person is living with illness or pain caused by an injury from their job or hobby. Maybe that person’s job was full of risk, such as working in a gold mine as highlighted on the Discovery Channel’s show Gold Rush, or on a crab boat similar to Deadliest Catch. Maybe they played sports and received multiple concussions and are impacted by the long-term effects or repeated head injuries. Former Colorado Avalanche hockey player Scott Parker knows this firsthand. According to Adrian Dater, a reporter for The Denver […]
You’re So Needy
“You could get better if you wanted to.” “You should just try harder.” “You’re being lazy.” “You need to be more motivated.” “You’re so needy.” Have you ever heard any of these comments from friends and family members? Have you ever said one of these to someone living with illness or pain? Often when we come across someone who says he has been sick or in pain for a long time, we think he is either exaggerating or not doing something about it. After all, when most people get sick, they get some rest, take some medication and are soon […]
My Thoughts on Sharing Your Illness with Others
Everyone has a story to share – this is what connects us to one another, no matter our family background or where we come from. No matter what you’ve been through in your life, telling your story is the first step to creating meaningful relationships and building a strong support system. People with invisible illnesses are often misunderstood, blamed, mistreated and judged. When we don’t acknowledge the truth of such illnesses, we are telling these people that they don’t matter or that they have no value. How will people heal if others don’t want to acknowledge that they have an […]