Read on Twitter
A lot of us with ADHD have internalised ableism where we think if we try hard enough we will able to. We can't. Within the world's model of functioning, we are disabled because we literally can't do some things we are expected to. https://twitter.com/ADHDelaide/status/1276241050772877316
There's a huge and compelling narrative out there that convinces us we can overcome anything if we try hard enough and it can feel strange that say this is a disability but that's only because we think admitting we have a disability means we have given up on trying somehow
I've tried so hard all my adult life and there are some things I simply can't do. I can't. No matter how hard I try. Medication and asking for help for certain things are just accomodations we need. I'm still learning about and choosing to unlearn internalised ableism.
I've struggled with the word disabled for a while before this year but it shouldn't have taken a complete burnout for me to accept the label disabled. I keep thinking I can't be disabled because I'm capable of being productive and that's exactly what internalised ableism is.
Because being disabled has nothing to do with productivity!! And that's really a preconceived notion I had about disability and disabled people. I won't force others to accept the label of disabled, but personally I do think our fear of the label comes from ableism!
Part of it is also a combination of RSD and imposter syndrome: I worry about the ridicule people will throw my way: 'you don't seem disabled' and I think to myself 'maybe I'm not disabled enough'. But this year I'm worrying less and less about what others think of my labels.
