You can Google any medical/psychological disorder and find
professional information written in generic, impersonal terms. Having been
diagnosed with numerous conditions, I can share personal experiences on each,
beginning with the most visible, Cerebral Palsy.
Being born with Cerebral
Palsy (C.P.) hasn’t impacted my life as people assume. After all, because I was
born with impacted muscle control, I know no different. Walking with an
unsteady gait, talking with slurred speech, and limited dexterity/fine motor
skills has been so much a part of me that I know no different.
Lots of teasing occurred
during childhood, yet positive social interactions dominated the negative
feedback I received. I never sat around feeling sorry for myself because I was never limited by C.P.. I guess my
one ‘C.P. hang-up’ was I felt bad for the men I dated in fact, I’d refuse to hold their hands in public because I
felt sorry for them being identified as my boyfriend. Now I see it as a
self-esteem issue. Whatever it was, I never had trouble making friends due
merely to my C.P.
As I enter my mid-forties. I
see ways C.P. is becoming more prominent as I age (which was predicted by
doctors the past several years). My hands shake and fine motor skills are
increasing impaired making things like carrying liquids, checking my oil, and
putting coins in the laundry machines challenging. My energy isn’t what it was
(but that may be due to depression), nor is my endurance. My strength does not
seem to be affected, yet carrying heavy things for long distances is weakening.
Perhaps the greatest
challenge I face aging with C.P. is the frequency of falling. I recently (and
joyfully) was given an Assistance Dog who helps me steady myself when I getting
up from a fall. She also helps greatly with my depression and anxiety, which
will be addressed in future articles.
In conclusion, for the most
part, C.P. has been such a ‘non-issue’ that I rarely considered it. This is
slowly changing as I am becoming middle-aged.
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