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| Coping with Cerebral Palsy | ||
It’s never really affected me. I feel like I’m a normal kid. I’m here and I just do what I need to do. -Olivia, 11 years old In elementary school, I didn’t handle the reactions from my peers very well. I guess my self-esteem might’ve dropped a bit because that kind of thing was really affirming things that I didn’t want to believe about myself. It’s kind of like when you hear something from someone for so long, you begin to believe it. That’s kind of what was happening to me, but then I gradually realized that even though I can’t jump or skip or climb up ladders, there are plenty of other things that my peers are doing that I could enjoy watching them do. It didn’t have to be painful for me to enjoy watching them doing the things that they loved to do, and so recently I haven’t really noticed teasing or whispering behind my back outright. -Emily, 18 years old Learning to appreciate my body as it is I’ve been involved in a writing team, and I’ve given speeches to my school and another school about disability rights and what I’ve gone through and I think it would help others to know about self-advocacy and that disabilities aren’t just one thing, because we all have had something we’re not able to do, so I’ve advocated for myself in that way. It’s made me feel a lot better about who I am and able to accept myself, especially when I first stopped walking. I was depressed because I didn’t know how to handle not only cerebral palsy, but not being able to walk, and it’s just something I dealt with. Even though it’s hard, I wanted to appreciate my body as it is and accept it for what I can do instead of deny it and think about what I can’t do because that only brings up negative thoughts. -Emily, 18 years old I feel ashamed and embarrassed whenever I chat with others in public. My friends or family members would say that I am talking too loudly and that’s when I feel embarrassed. I have to remind myself to talk slowly and softly, so I do not disturb others. -Karthik, 27 years old There are things I can’t do because of my CP. I may not be able to walk or go on all the big rides at an amusement park, but with the help of my friends and family I have learned to deal with it. My family does a lot for me. They will carry me up stairs or drive me to the doctors. They have accepted me. With their help I can swim in a pool and go to visit friends. I am thankful for everything I am able to do. I know that my friends and family sometimes wish I wasn’t disabled because it affects their lives a lot. For example, my family used to go snorkeling in Florida, but they can’t anymore because I can’t. They now have limits as to what they can do because of me. I know this frustrates them but they try not to show it. -Stephanie, 14 years old Learning to be independent and strong I have been embarrassed and ashamed at many times in my life because there are so many things that are difficult for me and they are easy for my friends. My friends see this and it makes them remember I am different from them. I hate when people look down on me, or feel sorry for me. I have been able to learn how be more independent and strong with physical therapy. At Mass Hospital School I am surrounded by people like me so I feel more accepted. I think I have much more confidence and self esteem then I did when I was younger. -Stephanie, 14 years old There are some things I wish I could do, like riding a big roller coaster or simply getting up and running around. I felt frustrated and left out. I try to deal with the things I can’t do by focusing on the things I can do. Trying new things opens up new opportunities for me. -Stephanie, 14 years old
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Hospital Boston Department of Psychiatry. All Rights Reserved. The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. Updated:April 26, 2009 |
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