Re: Reply to Maureen - Mike

[Guest guest]

" I cant get used to them staring at me because it upsets me

> greatly. " and " When I am zooming around with my walker, I forget

that I have

> a problem and am in the great frame of mind that i am no different

to able

> bodied people. "

>

> My question is: How can ANYTHING upset you unless you let it? That

is YOUR

> choice to make. Take back your power and look at it with a different

> perspective. I would suggest something like: " Gee, they're staring

at me. I

> must be more attractive than I thought. " or " They're staring at me?

Oh well,

> some people have nothing better to do. I'm pleased I can give them some

> entertainment. " Staring back at them just makes you feel bad on a

> subconscious level and you thus let them " live in your head rent

free. " This

> is the professional me talking now. This is a Cognitive Behavioral

Method of

> managing the thought patterns that we learned growing up. It's

called a life

> schema. You are giving up the power you have to others and not

empowering

> yourself. Empower yourself by changing your thoughts. This will lead to

> different feelings and behaviors. Remember, you are you, not PLS or

the cane

> or the walker. And remember the second sentence quoted above that you

> stated. This is the positive attitude, the one you want to keep.

Yes, you

> are unique with PLS. But this makes you special, not strange.

>

> I could care less if people stare. I actually don't even notice it. Why

> should I? I have to use my walker to be in some stores and I use a

shopping

> cart if I can so I don't have to use my walker and the cart

together. This

> would be very unhandy. Most people are more than willing to talk

with me and

> help me if I ask. In fact, many people ask if they can help. I

usually take

> them up on it. Why be full of pride and fall on my butt when I can get

> needed help?

>

> I have actually used my PLS and walker to make some of my patients

at the

> State Hospital where I work to understand that anyone with a

" disability "

> can do things they want to within reason and to also let them know I

won't

> let them " use " their mental illness as a crutch to keep from being

> responsible for their actions and their lives. I don't know if it has

> actually worked, but most of them won't complain around me anymore.

>

> Thought for the day: " Man (and Woman) is not disturbed by events

alone but

> by the view he (she) takes of them. "

>

> Just something to think about,

>

> Mike Gray

>

>

>

>