In class we watched the movie regarding the disabled rugby teams. In all honesty I had no idea whatsoever at how intense this sport is and how much work goes into this game. These men have a serious love for this sport and can actually end up getting even more injured because if the wheelchair flips they can break their necks. Regardless of the looming dangers these men go through with it. Continue reading
body politics
My “Invisible” Illness
There are so many types of illness one could have, but not all illnesses are visible to the naked eye. When you see someone in a wheelchair, you can see that they’re handicapped. When someone has anxiety, you won’t quite see it unless they have an attack.
I am one of those people with an “invisible” illness. Anxiety was never something that I knew I had when I was younger. I would have little attacks here and there, but my parents just brushed it off, thinking that I was only freaking out because I was literally afraid of everything.
It wasn’t until about a year ago when I had my first serious attack. I began to feel disconnected to my body, like my heart was moving faster than the movements my body was actually making. My mom, who has anxiety herself, began to realize that I may have a serious issue. She took me to my doctor the next day, and we found out that I had a mild type of anxiety. She explained that if I could try to stay calm and control myself, I wouldn’t need any medication – which sounded great to me, because I did not want to be seen as “sick” to my friends.
I later began to regret not asking for medication, because after my first serious attack, I began to have more. I hated the type of discomfort that these attacks were making me feel, but I had to learn how to control myself. Having mild anxiety has allowed me to bond more with my mom, because she has been my anchor through it all – her anxiety is way more severe than mine is, but she has learned to control it, which made me feel more comfortable to confide in her.
Just because my illness isn’t that visible, doesn’t mean that I don’t have it. Whenever my friends see me starting to have an attack, they think that I am doing it for attention, until my mom steps in and explains to them what is really going on. I just want to bring awareness to the many “invisible” illnesses that exist, because you never know what someone could be going through.
Tis’ the season, but where’s the reason?
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… Tis’ the season that we as a society come together to celebrate wonderful holidays full of tradition… Continue reading
(subversive?) self care
Its really difficult to talk about self care generally because everyone needs something different, but I also think sharing self care experiences is a useful thing to do.
I
would describe self care as a way of life. For me its not just, taking a shower or treating myself every now and then. Its the day to day moments. Self care is everything from being able to take a step back from my egoic self, and instead of feeling my anxieties and desires with full force, being able to mindfully and compassionately process the situations to make the best decisions I can. Continue reading
No I am not overreacting when you say that word.
As a young child my distant cousin was diagnosed with down-syndrome. This is a kid whom never loses a smile on his face no matter what the world may throw at him during the day. Continue reading
My body, not yours.
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
Throughout my life, I’ve always had a core group of female friends. Of course, some friends have come and gone throughout the years, but my favorite memories with these women has always been nights during which we sit around and have intimate conversations. Last night was one of those nights.
How do you feel about the “n word?”
The phrase “Nothing about us without us,” means that in an argumentative discussion about a racial group, at least one member of that social or racial group must be present in the discussion. Continue reading
I love my fuzz
Hello! I am a mammal!
I have never particularly enjoyed shaving. Growing up, its importance was never stressed. In fact, my mom would tell me she was happy it was winter because it meant she didn’t have to shave — the impression I got was that she didn’t really like to do it, herself. When I was a preteen, she bought me razors and shaving gel, but didn’t pressure me to use them, and shaving didn’t seem to be a rite of passage among my peers, the way buying a bra was. I was in no rush to do it myself. Continue reading
My mother and hairy legs
I’m sitting here in New York on my mothers couch contemplating my third blog post. It’s been a few days since I’ve shaved my legs, who cares…right? Continue reading
The Hunting Ground: A Summary & Review
WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG POST.
Earlier this week on CNN, a documentary illuminating the realities of sexual assault on college campuses was aired. ‘The Hunting Ground’ was a powerful, emotional, and much-needed story that needed to be shared with Americans all across the nation. This documentary was written by the same people who produced ‘The Invisible War’, an expose on women’s sexual assault in the military. Continue reading
