Muscular Dystrophy News Forums Forums Dating, Relationships, and Marriage Interacting with someone with a disability

  • craig-w

    Member
    February 9, 2019 at 11:01 am

    I do consider it a complement.

  • danielle-dani-liptak

    Member
    February 9, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    Robert, do you consider the reason behind why they find you inspiring bothersome? I have always had my issues with someone finding me inspiring or brave, that is another term that makes me cringe a little. Only because what else was I supposed to do when my disability began affecting me? Give up? No, I adapted like any person would. I would never tell someone off for saying I inspire them. I am always polite and try to thank them and bring as much awareness to muscular dystrophy as possible. I do try and use my social media as a way to express to society what bothers me or what “inspires me” but when I interact face to face with people who don’t have a disability I try to be kind and understanding.

    Have you heard of the term “inspiration porn”?

    Today, inspiration porn is more likely to refer to viral videos, that showcase a non-disabled person doing something nice for a disabled person.

    In the past,“inspiration porn is an image of a person with a disability, often a kid, doing something completely ordinary–like playing, or talking, or running–carrying a caption like ‘your excuse is invalid!’, it is there so that non-disabled people can put their worries into perspective. It’s there so that non-disabled people can look at us and think ‘Well, it could be worse, I could be that person.’ ”

    What do you think of that side of the discussion?

  • craig-w

    Member
    February 9, 2019 at 9:06 pm

    I get complements all the time from my friends but inside I am afraid of rejection when it comes to dating. My last relationship ended by her saying she didn’t want to end up with an invalid.

    That was 2007.

    That devastated me as I loved her so much. I have been so afraid of letting my guard down as I don’t want to feel hurt like I did.

    Has anyone here felt the same as me? Am I the only one to deal with these issues?

    Craig

    • danielle-dani-liptak

      Member
      March 18, 2019 at 7:19 am

      You most certainly not alone, Craig! I have not had a significant other tell me that they can’t be with me because of my disability, but I did have a roommate decide that living with me was too hard for her, that I required more help. I agreed, it also was not her responsibility, but it still hurt my feelings. At the time I didn’t know it was also a blessing in disguise. I did not actually like living with her, I appreciated my independence and now I know what I want in a roommate.

      It is hard work keeping your guard up all the time, not everyone thinks like you ex, I understand holding yourself back from the possibility of love is safe yes, but I can guarantee when looking back you will regret not trying! When you are truly ready you will get back out there, until then, know you have survived your hardest days because you are strong!

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