The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush.
Throughout the year and on the ADA Anniversary, the ADA National Network recognizes this landmark event and the important work to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
Over half of disabled people report feeling lonely. I am one of them. I left the work world in 2012 on disability. My condition continues to deteriorate and keeps me away from social interactions (pre-COVID 19), and family gatherings. Since COVID 19, things are worse. Totally quarantined due to a lowered immune system, my outings consist of only those pertaining to medical visits which are necessary and can’t be done via telehealth.
What friends I had have disappeared from my life. My current life revolves around the family members inside of my home. I miss out on anything fun or stimulating and if I could I probably wouldn’t enjoy myself for long. My stamina is low, and my pain levels are high. I know I am not alone. I would like to find a way to communicate with others with the same problems, but the online forums seem lonely as well as typing on a screen to a faceless “other person” seems fruitless. I don’t think I’d like it as much as I feel I would some days, and fear I’d start and never go back. The connections are too meaningless and most people only want to complain. I do enough of that myself.
Lost friendships are a painful reminder of what my illness has cost. It hurts to feel lonely. Creating a blog that no one cares to read-only makes me feel lonelier. I know there are ways to combat loneliness. I can increase family ties or find new friends. I deserve to remain connected to those I love. By reaching out, thinking ahead, and recognizing my needs, perhaps I can find happiness and a greater sense of social connection again.
According to the National Center for PTSD, there are currently about 8 million people in the United States alone with PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs after a person has experienced some sort of severe traumatic event in life. Despite what you may think, this is not a rare occurrence, with around 7 or 8 people out of 100 experiencing it during their lifetime.
The Mayo Clinic groups symptoms into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. These symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.
If you’ve ever experienced a headache, you know how painful and bothersome they can be.
There’s a really good article about the difference between headaches and migraines on Healthline.
Watch this video to see the difference between a tension headache and a migraine:
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There are four distinct types of cataracts, Age-related, Congenital, Secondary, and Traumatic.
Cataracts cause blurry, cloudy vision and may occur in adults over the age of 60, called age-related cataracts.
Infection, injury, or poor development may cause an unborn child to develop cataracts in the mother’s uterus, and these are congenital cataracts. These may also form in childhood from the same reasoning.
A person with another medical condition, like diabetes, can cause secondary cataracts. Persons taking corticosteroids, or diuretic medications can also develop secondary cataracts. Other ways are being around toxins, ultraviolet light, and radiation.
There is no way to actually prevent cataracts. , The treatments would be prescription glasses or contacts, followed by prescription medication or both, and finally, if these treatments don’t work, surgery.
Watch this short video where a doctor explains cataracts and their treatment.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these are the 12 common motor tics seen in Tourette Syndrome:
To learn more about Tic Disorders in Tourette’s Syndrome, watch this short video.
Both my daughter and her oldest daughter have APS, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Both have experienced miscarriages. Don’t know anything at all about APS? Check out this simple video to get your questions answered.
Get out your calendars! June is Awareness Month for APS, Tourettes, Cataracts, Migraine and Headaches, and June 27th is PTSD day! This month, I’ll be covering these topics and more.
APS, or Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: occurs when your immune system mistakenly creates antibodies that make your blood much more likely to clot.
Tourettes: A nervous system disorder involving repetitive movements or unwanted sounds.
Cataracts: Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that can cause changes in vision. Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to glare. Cataracts are treated with surgery.
Migraine: A severe throbbing pain, generally experienced on one side of the head.
Headaches: There are over 150 types of headaches, but the most common types include: tension headaches, migraine, cluster, chronic daily headaches, sinus, exercise, and so many more.
PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder: A mental health condition that develops following a traumatic event.
These are the topics we’ll cover this month. If you have any questions or comments or would like to add your experiences please send me a comment through the contact me page.
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
May is Better Sleep Month by the Better Sleep Council. Did you know 90 million Americans have their sleep disrupted by snoring? The Better Sleep Council has so much information on getting better sleep. They even have a quiz to help you determine what type of mattress would suit you best. Check it out here!
May is Correct Posture Month by the American Chiropractic Association.
May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Learn more at the Lupus Disease Foundation.
Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around three to 30 days after being bitten. This is known as erythema migrans. The rash is often described as looking like a bulls-eye on a dartboard.
Some of the common symptoms are as follows:
Symptoms of late-stage Lyme disease:
Finally, but not exclusively, May is the awareness month for Neurofibromatosis. The Children’s Tumor Foundation website has so much valuable information on this incurable genetic disorder (s). They have a superb resource library. NF can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. You can donate, volunteer, and advocate by visiting their website for more information.
May Is Better Hearing & Speech Month a time to raise awareness about communication disorders and available treatment options that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems speaking, understanding, or hearing.
It’s American Stroke Awareness Month. This one is close to my heart. My dad and other relatives have had strokes before they passed. Not so pretty. A stroke happens when a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn’t cause lasting symptoms.
Arthritis Awareness Month was highlighted in a former post. You can read about it here. Also, check out my resources and learning area to see how you can volunteer or donate.
Food Allergy Awareness Week provides a unique opportunity to help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. Each of us works in our own way to raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. When we all work together and focus our efforts over the course of one week, it amplifies our message and reaches many more people than anyone of us could do alone.
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month. May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month (GEHFM), an international initiative that prioritizes health and fitness in the workplace. It’s the time of the year when organizations should reflect on what they are doing (or not doing) to help their employees live healthy lifestyles.
Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” It’s a peak season for people with asthma and allergies, and a perfect time to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and others about these diseases. More than 60 million Americans overall have asthma and allergies.
These numbers paint a picture of how many people in the U.S. are managing asthma and allergies. But they don’t paint a picture of the overall impact these diseases have on people and communities.
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