search
- Follow this great ape on WordPress.com
most read
follow the ape on Twitter
My TweetsSections
tags
- #YesAllWomen
- ableism
- actuallyautistic
- anger
- answers
- anxiety
- appearance
- ASD
- Asperger
- Aspergers
- autism
- autistic
- autistic woman
- autisticwomen
- BlackLivesMatter
- Buddhism
- busyness
- chronic pain
- confusion
- coping
- depression
- disability
- doubt
- effort
- emotional reaction
- empathy
- faith
- fear
- friend
- frustration
- futility
- god
- good intentions
- graduate student
- guilt
- healing
- health insurance
- holiday
- hope
- humor
- inner monologue
- insomnia
- invisible disability
- judgmental
- learning
- life change
- loneliness
- luck
- masking
- massage therapy
- media
- misinformation
- nerve ablation
- nerve pain
- neurodivergent
- neurotypical
- normal
- ordeal
- orthopedist
- pain
- personal crisis
- pharmacy
- physical therapy
- rage
- self care
- self loathing
- self love
- sexism
- specialist
- stereotype
- suffering
- surgery
- systemic racism
- vacation
- work
archives
- February 2022
- November 2021
- October 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- January 2018
- July 2017
- June 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
Monthly Archives: April 2014
happiness
I have a pet peeve, and it is internet philosophy. I’m sure you’ve seen those articles with “5 things you didn’t know about successful people” or “10 quick tips to a better life” or “The real secret to happiness” and … Continue reading
Posted in Aspect I
Tagged anger, chronic pain, effort, healing, luck, media, misinformation, nerve ablation
4 Comments
arranged
Pain and soreness this morning are way up from my usual, and as usual, I don’t know why. I was already on a downward trajectory by Wednesday, but despite taking it easy at physical therapy on Thursday and not having class … Continue reading
reach out
I hate this. I hate this undecorated life and frail body. I hate that when I try to explain to my friends what has happened to me they stare at me uncomprehending, uncertain of what the right thing is to … Continue reading
the end of the beginning
Lately, I’ve found myself slipping more and more often into that nasty little place where everything is annoying and everyone is a moron. People can be so thoughtless, and my tolerance for it, normally rather generous, has been burned down … Continue reading
upon closer examination
I’m still not used to the new order of things around here. Last night I erroneously told a friend I’d be able to meet her for coffee this morning before I make the half-hour drive to my parents’ house for … Continue reading
Three Things Not To Say To People With Chronic Health Problems (And What You Can Say Instead)
It’s been a tough week in the ape preserve, I know, so as we close in on a holiday weekend, I thought I would lighten things up with a bit of chronic pain comedy. Three Things Not To Say to … Continue reading
fixed
First, I have a lot less pain today. A full day of rest and chair avoidance has presumably been good for me. Second, I am not fixed. fix |fiks| verb [ with obj. ] fixes, fixing, fixed. (1) to mend or repair, … Continue reading
destroyed
Today I woke up at four o’clock in the morning, stiff and hurting. After spending an hour failing to find a comfortable position, I got out of bed. Every muscle surrounding my vacant shoulder blade felt sore and bruised, and the unmistakeable … Continue reading
Posted in Aspect I
Tagged anger, chronic pain, doubt, nerve pain, personal crisis, physical therapy
3 Comments
if I’m not me then who am I?
Yesterday morning, I caught a glimpse of myself in a sliding glass door. I couldn’t see my shoulders or face, just my shorts and legs, and for a brief moment, I didn’t recognize the legs as belonging to me. They … Continue reading
stop my life I want to get off
You’d think I finally might have come around to the idea that my body has some limitations. Laid low by a painful, crippling nerve injury involving my neck and right shoulder, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on the months leading up to it. … Continue reading