#disability advocate

[pumpkin-the-girlie-girl-vixen]

Understanding Schizophrenic Hallucinations: Beyond Sight and Sound

When most people think of hallucinations, they often envision vivid visual experiences or unsettling auditory sensations. However, hallucinations associated with schizophrenia encompass a much broader range of experiences that can involve all five senses. It's essential to unpack this complexity to foster a more profound understanding of what individuals living with schizophrenia may face.

The Nature of Hallucinations

Hallucinations can be defined as perceptions that occur without any external stimulus. They can manifest in various forms:

1. **Auditory Hallucinations**: This is perhaps the most well-known type. Many individuals hear voices that may comment on their actions, converse with one another, or even issue commands. These voices can feel incredibly real and can lead to feelings of confusion, distress, or fear. The tone of these voices can vary significantly; they might be familiar or completely alien, nurturing or abusive.

2. **Visual Hallucinations**: Some individuals report seeing things that aren't there—shadows, figures, or even detailed scenes. These visual experiences can be disorienting and frightening, impacting one’s sense of reality. For example, someone may see a person standing in the corner of a room, only to realize that there is no one there.

3. **Olfactory Hallucinations**: While less talked about, smell can play a significant role in hallucinations. Some individuals might perceive foul odors that others do not notice, sometimes associated with memories or feelings of disgust. Conversely, they may experience pleasant smells that provide a fleeting sense of comfort.

4. **Gustatory Hallucinations**: Taste, too, can be impacted. An individual with schizophrenia might experience tastes that are not present, such as bitterness or metallic flavors that can be unsettling and contribute to a general feeling of unease.

5. **Tactile Hallucinations**: These involve the sensation of physical touch or movement on the skin. Someone might feel as though insects are crawling on them, or they may experience phantom sensations that can provoke anxiety or distress. This can lead to confusion about what is real and what is not, often exacerbating feelings of fear and paranoia.

🧠Schizophrenia Sucks🧠

The Emotional and Psychological Impact

The presence of these hallucinations can lead to significant emotional turmoil. Individuals may feel isolated, fearing that no one can understand their experiences. The unpredictability of when these hallucinations will occur can cause anxiety and make daily life challenging. The reality of living with such experiences is not just about the sensations themselves but also about their implications for one’s mental state and social interactions.

Moreover, hallucinations can interfere with one’s ability to distinguish between reality and illusion, leading to potential misunderstandings in social situations. This misunderstanding can result in strained relationships with friends, family, and coworkers, as others may not comprehend the challenges involved.

Seeking Support and Understanding

Living with hallucinations requires a robust support system. Therapy, medication, and open lines of communication with loved ones are crucial in managing these symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help individuals develop coping strategies and tools to navigate their experiences, while medication may assist in reducing the frequency and intensity of hallucinations.

Raising awareness about the multifaceted nature of hallucinations in schizophrenia can foster a more compassionate approach from society. Understanding that these experiences can involve all five senses can encourage empathy and support for those affected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hallucinations in schizophrenia are a complex and often misunderstood aspect of the disorder. They are not limited to just seeing and hearing; they can encompass smells, tastes, and tactile sensations as well. By sharing these experiences and advocating for greater understanding, we can help create a more supportive environment for individuals living with schizophrenia, paving the way for healing and connection.

[crazycatsiren]

Imagine if abled people were to just treat disabled people like people.

Such as asking if we need help, not touching us and our things without permission, not asking us invasive personal questions, speaking to us like we are adults with agency.

[trashpandafeminism]

The cannabis industry is booming, but it's leaving many disabled women behind. Dispensaries often lack accessibility features, and many jobs in the industry require physical labor or inflexible schedules that don't work for everyone. It's time for change. 

We need to work together to make the cannabis industry more inclusive for everyone, including disabled women. This means improving accessibility, offering more flexible work arrangements, and breaking down barriers to entry.

Let's create a future where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed in the cannabis industry.

[spooniestrong]

The amazing Alice Wong follows SpoonieStrong on Twitter (I used to post a lot). 💙🥄

[thechaoticbookwyrm]

Caged. [One Year.]

[Trigger Warning: PTSD, CPTSD, Medical Trauma, Car Accident, Strong Language, and one really fucking stupid suicide adjacent joke.]           Today, I am toxic. There’s no other way to put it, and if I had a therapist, I’m pretty sure, I’d get mad credit for being able to point that out on my own.  I am volatile, and even I don’t want to be around myself, and I feel bad for the people in my…

[familythings]

Ana Victoria: The World’s First Lawyer With Down Syndrome

Ana Victoria is courageously breaking down barriers and reshaping the perception of pursuing a career in law. As the world’s first lawyer with Down syndrome, she serves as an inspiration not only to individuals with disabilities but to everyone striving to challenge societal limitations. Born in a time when opportunities for people with Down syndrome were often limited, Ana Victoria was…

[historydailyfrancischappellblack]

Anne Sullivan began teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her hearing and sight after a dreadful illness at the age of 19 months. March 3, 1887. Image: Helen Keller (left) in 1899 with lifelong companion and teacher Anne Sullivan (right). Photo taken by Alexander Graham Bell at his School of Vocal Physiology and Mechanics of Speech. (Public Domain). On this day in history, March 3, 1887,…

[glitchdollmemoria]

please can we stop describing bigots as delusional. please. im so fucking tired. someone being sucked into a hate group surrounded by others who believe minorities should be oppressed and encouraging them to believe in conspiracy theories that the rest of the group believes, is fundamentally different from someone having a mental illness that causes delusions.

delusions, by definition, cannot be explained by things like cultural background - such as having a belief constantly reinforced by intentional attempts to rationalize it for the sake of maintaining power over minorities. yes, someone can be both delusional and a bigot, and yes conspiracy theories can feed into delusions, but the two are not fucking synonymous.

i did not spend my teen years convinced that i was being stalked by demons just to hear so many of you people equate my disability with incel behavior and genocidal propaganda. stop reinforcing harmful connotations about mental health struggles.

[xautisticsunitex]

For adults on the Autistic spectrum

- it’s okay to still have meltdowns/sensory overloads

- it’s okay to still watch cartoons

- it’s okay if you can’t cope with a full time job

- it’s if you have learning difficulties and do things at slower pace

- it’s okay to be in your 30’s and still live with your mom and dad or one parent

- it’s okay to not have many friends or none at all

- it’s okay to live a life Neurotypicals don’t appreciate

[crazycatsiren]

Disabled people got places to go and things to do, too, you know.

[cure-icy-writes]

I stand in front of a crowd and tap the microphone. "Disabled people deserve full bodily autonomy," I announce, and the crowd devolves into shouting. I am being asked about every single contingency in which bodily autonomy can possibly be taken away. I am not allowed to ask these people why they want so badly to control disabled people's lives. I am a representative, after all.

A man in the third row calls me a whore. A woman up near the front calls me a filthy god-hating anarchist. I am the villain of the story. I'm ruining their childhoods when I point out the flaws and ableist tropes in media that I never said they weren't allowed to enjoy. I'm policing their language when I ask them not to use slurs.

Someone else calls me a fascist. A Creationist with Calvinist leanings is using the same arguments against me as the literal social Darwinist. The topic of "faking disability" is brought up and everyone suddenly has a story to share and presents it to me. I am horrified by most of these stories because they feature ambulatory wheelchair users being harassed and young people with invisible disabilities being chased out of bathrooms.

I tap the microphone again and announce, louder, "Autism speaks is actually a hate organization." At this rate, I'm never going to get to my powerpoint on the social/medical model of disability and why the intersection is important. But I am a representative, and in between the name calling and accusations, they are asking me questions. And so I answer.

[zebulontheplanet]

See people say “IQ means nothing” “IQ Isn’t important”

You’re forgetting about us with intellectual disabilities. Those of us who can’t learn like you, who can’t process things like you. It’s frustrating to see people saying that IQ means nothing when it does mean something. Intellectual disability literally makes your brain work differently.

It’s frustrating to also see this from advocates. People who are supposed to be advocating for us and making our voices heard. Please don’t undermine intellectual disabilities. Don’t make it seem like a bad things. Like something that should be shunned or not spoken about. Speak about us.

Some of us need help. Some of us need things explained to us more. To be taught to us differently.

[ontheoutside-lookingin]

Clinical misdiagnosis is more common than self misdiagnosis. Just for the record, in case anyone is still skeptical of self diagnosis :) it’s not up for debate btw

[eeveeas123]

🦓❤️

Okay, autism is an every single day challenge, being autistic often means we’re extremely sensitive to things in our environments (External factors) and even things in our own minds/bodies (Internal factors). Sometimes this makes us uncomfortable to the point where we snap! Thinking “If I weren’t autistic, this wouldn’t be happening!”. I decided to tell you guys, what I LIKE about being autistic today! Rather than just my challenges:

🦓Having my autism service dog. Eevee has changed my life (And so has my previous service dogs, River and Viva). She’s able to calm me down with just a few kisses (Licks). I wouldn’t have met any of my pup friends if I wasn’t autistic because I wouldn’t have a service dog

🦓My “Autistic joy”. I can see the world in a way that makes some specific little things fill me with happiness! Stimming with something as simple as running water, tapping buttons or waving my hands, I feel very happy experiencing something that most wouldn’t even notice. Also, I can watch the same videos over and over because they’re never boring to me! I love collecting videos to watch at any time. Pokémon amplifies this by 100% (My special interest)

🦓My neurodivergent friends. I was in special education for middle school and high school. I wouldn’t have met my wonderful classmates teachers, educational assistants, etc. if I wasn’t autistic! Some were Down syndrome, some were cerebral palsy, some were autistic like me and many more. I’m so glad I met them! Good times!

🦓My imagination. I love creating stories by writing and it really is my purpose! I can almost live a fictional situation/scene inside my head and make something out of that. Most of my stories are based on my experiences (My main character is often autistic too!). I’m not saying a non-autistic person can’t write a good book, I just think I provide a fresh perspective!

Hopefully that makes you feel a bit better about being autistic, maybe take some time to reflect on these things and see if you feel them too!