I was injured at work and have limited use of my legs and after CABG I get tired easy. But because I am a muscular 63 year old man. When I use the handicap parking. I am bombarded with attacks that I don't look like I need that space. And when I need to get help in the store to move around. I use a driving cart I encounter the same attacks. I have learned how to explain that not all people that need assistance have outward medical conditions

😥

Still struggling and coping

The invisibility and dynamism of my illness are my biggest social challenges. I don't "look sick" or "act sick" sometimes (even when I am), so people forget or doubt me when I say I can't do things. When I say I've spent all weekend in bed, people say, "Oh, that must be nice," as if it was a luxury. I just try to shrug it off because their lack of understanding doesn't impact how I navigate this illness.

I suffer from limited mobility due to degenerative back issues, which is bad enough, but I also suffer from urinary incontinence. I am starting to make myself get out and about more this spring, but would literally go weeks at a time without leaving my apartment over the winter. Between the pain and difficulty walking, and fear of an incontinence accident, I dreaded even the thought of leaving the house. The spring I am hoping that surgery can correct the incontinence issues, which actually keep me homebound more than the back pain does. For example, with the back pain I could take a cruise, but I'm not going to do so with the level of incontinence I have been suffering. I'm not boarding a boat with that many supplies in hand! It also means very little domestic travel as I do not want to wet the bed in a hotel. At home is bad enough. Male urinary incontinence is treated as anomalous which only aggravates the stigma. Note to front end workers at Walmart and supermarkets everywhere: keep those scooters plugged in and charged please. There's nothing worse than seeing a line of scooters, none of which are plugged in. I can't tell you the number of times I've gotten to the far corner of a Walmart and had my scooter die on me. And it's really to their economic advantage to have scooters charged, maintain, and at the ready. There are times I will turn around and walk out if there are no scooters. I will definitely shop for shorter period of time with the lower ticket value if scooters are not available.

My mum, who is elderly and cant walk all the time (but can sometimes) gets abused!!!? She just says to them, "you don't want what I've got! And they shutup. People are A'holes... It's a shame but it's the truth.

Being social period

Just making friends

I get involved behind my screen. I'm not terrified when there's something protecting me from the actual process of interaction

Getting out of the house and hanging out with friends is a huge challenge, especially when I don't know if my illnesses will affect me more than usual during a scheduled event.

Letting go of relationships that died off due to my illness.

Dating ❤️

University. Currently almost finished my first year and debating whether I'll be able to go back

Not having supportive friends during disability appeal. Friends and coworkers not understanding when I'm not able to be present and active. Wanting to engage in community opportunities but missing out because of my conditions.

Well I could take this in many different directions depending on which issue I’m talking about. Currently my adhd and (suspected) autism have been giving me loads of social and academic trouble. I don’t know how to manage it yet. I’ve realized my struggles in communication and I’m working on bettering it and being clear with people about my struggles. I lost a friend because of it, but my other friend and I have reflected on how it wasn’t a healthy friendship. Lots of ups and downs.

I just assume people think I'm antisocial. No able to even go baby shower. But I don't care anymore what they may be thinking about me. Feel no worth being present with pain. Better staying home and painless days :) if I really miss socialising, I just invite them to my home, that's it. Hope you get strength to survive one more day! Today is enough to handle. Praying for you all :)

you don't have to explain nothing to anyone, No one needs explanation for what is going on with you. It's you. T❤️ the Lord knows your heart and he's the only one we have to answer to, so let em stare and think what ever they want to because we dont owe them nothing. So live your life your life in peace and keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ

Mine was when I had one side hearing loss and I would go out with a group of friends, I would walked away exhausted and sad. What helped was when my close friend understood what I was dealing with. Now I advocate for self when I am out with anyone what I can't do or need them to do. Sometime I have to speak up before I agree to do etc

Socializing at all. Bipolar comes with a lot of anxiety, namely social anxiety. AA for my SUD has helped a lot, it's like an instant family.

I'm pretty sure I just shut down at some point. Anytime someone says end stage anything it kinda feels like a super serious claim. I've had to change my eating habits... which I've resisted😅...I have to do things I don't want to do for my kidney disease.... like the choice is out of my hands. And the chronic no energy.... that's super tough. Admittedly I didn't take change so well. My life is like it's our of my hands. But recently I've been better .... guess the darkness stopped and these things aren't so apparent.

Probably the fact I can't go and eat out anywhere except for like one place and I can't eat stuff that people buy in general. I tend to bring my own foods so that I can still participate in the fellowship that comes with eating with friends but it can still be tough making your own food all the time

Hanging out with friends like I used to. It was hard but I realized that my true friends are the one that understands and support. Plus know that I can't do what I used to do but I can still hang out less or do something else. This helps me to keep going. Plus my supportive team has been walking me through different ways to socialize. But I have some challenges but working progress

My toughest challenge is making new friends. Because of my disabilities people tend to want to lean on me instead of developing a real friendship. I compensate by keeping in touch with my few actual friends more frequently and spending time in supportive environments

Rarely feeling like I have the energy to do things is a big one and not enjoying most foods I have had even family, actually especially extended family think that I am just picky. I wish I could handle everything but I have IBS and possible arfid.