Maybe that sounds like a simple question, but apparently it
is not. Sure, we know in our heads that a neurological condition is no cause
for shame, but plenty of us still wrestle with this, at least from time to
time.
Nearly three out of five individuals answering a fairly recent
Neurology Now online poll admitted that they felt ashamed of having a
neurological condition. Two out of five said they did not feel ashamed of it.
Really?
Maybe it’s not self-made shame. Sometimes it’s generated by
others.
Despite remarkable medical advances and cultural acceptance
of neurological conditions, a social stigma seems to exist with some folks,
even if it’s not always intentional. Neurological conditions include Alzheimer’s
Disease, Brain or Spinal Cord Injuries, Brain Tumors, Epilepsy, Huntington’s
Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Spina Bifida, Stroke, and
more. Some of the symptoms of these diseases and disorders can be downright
daunting and quite uncomfortable. Even well-meaning people may grow awkward
around folks with neurological disorders, fumbling for a way to assist or just
relate to us.
As an individual living with one of these issues, fighting
it with all I have, I want to shout across the entire internet to reach anyone
with such a diagnosis:
“This is medical.“Just because you may stumble, stutter, totter, struggle, lose coordination, bump into objects or other people, become momentarily confused, slur your speech, or even slip out of consciousness from your neurological disorder, this is not a question of shame. Stand your ground – even if you can no longer stand still or straight or strong.“And may scientific research lead quickly to cures for neurological conditions.”
Can I get an “Amen”?
C’mon, MS warriors. Let’s get spunky about this to stomp out
shame and stigma.
Image/s:
Public
domain artwork
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