Published inWise & Well·PinnedMember-onlyWhen the Suicidal Teen Grows UpHow my teenage suicidality evolved undetected — Content warning: personal experiences with suicidal ideation, different types of self-harm, disordered eating, binge eating, & depression When I was seventeen, I asked my mother if I could take a “mental health day” and skip school. I was fighting with my only best friend, but that was the least of…Suicide9 min readSuicide9 min read
Published inWise & Well·PinnedMember-onlyThe Gross Physical Symptoms of Autism That No One Wants to Talk AboutWhy are bodily functions so hard to discuss openly? — One of the best things about having other neurodivergent friends is being able to talk candidly about our bodies in a way that neurotypical people shy away from. We spend our entire lives walking or rolling around in these bodies, but it’s taboo to talk about some of its functions…Health11 min readHealth11 min read
PinnedMember-onlyHow to Make the Hiring Process Accessible for Disabled Candidates10 tips that go beyond an EEO statement. — I often see companies touting themselves as inclusive by way of an EEO statement in a job post, but then the only way to request interview accommodations is by phone, or the applicant must be able to lift over fifty pounds. Just these two endeavors alone eliminate Deaf and Hard…Accessibility7 min readAccessibility7 min read
Published inAn Injustice!·3 days agoMember-onlyWhy Do People Fake Cancer?And what it says about disability culture — Over the past decade, there has been a surprising uptick in cases of people faking cancer. Whether for financial gain or attention, these people are met with an onslaught of hate as soon as they are found out, and rightfully so. But why do people fake cancer in the first…Culture6 min readCulture6 min read
Published inWise & Well·6 days agoMember-onlyThe Pandemic May Be Over, But the Ableism Isn’tHow COVID showed that disabled people still don’t matter — On March 11, 2020, the world came to an abrupt halt. Sporting events were canceled, schools were closed, and office buildings were empty. Americans stampeded the toilet paper aisle with all the ferocity of Black Friday. Across the globe, people cherished a two-week break before cabin fever set in. Three…Health7 min readHealth7 min read
Published inThe Narrative Arc·6 days agoMember-onlyAll the Lives I Have Not LivedAn elegy for the life paths I didn’t go down — “All the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves.” Virginia Woolf, “To the Lighthouse” Career I dreamt of a thousand lives before I graduated elementary school. My first job aspiration was to be Hannah Montana. The duplicitous impossibility of the position…Life6 min readLife6 min read
Published inCounter Arts·Nov 28Member-onlyThe Gilmore Girls Are NeurodivergentWhy their neurodivergence gives much-needed context to the show and fans’ criticisms — I’m currently halfway through my second rewatch of the nostalgic hit series, Gilmore Girls. Compared to my first viewing in late high school, my thoughts on the series this time around are vastly different. …Film6 min readFilm6 min read
Published inBitchy·Nov 22Member-onlyMy Sexual Assault Didn’t Feel Like a Sexual AssaultWhy I still struggle to call myself a “victim” — Trigger warning: sexual assault and coercion At the age of 19, I had my first kiss and first sexual experience on the same night. My memories are nearly invisible beneath their foggy haze. All that pierces through is the pain and the cheap vodka. Years later, I began hearing similar…Sexual Assault8 min readSexual Assault8 min read
Published inInvisible Illness·Nov 20Member-onlyHow I Hid My Autism for 25 YearsWhy no one knew I was autistic — including myself — In the last couple of years following my autism diagnosis, I have gone on an archaeological dig to find all the childhood signs that were missed. …Autism7 min readAutism7 min read
Published inBitchy·Nov 13Member-onlyDear Creepy Uncle, Please Stop Asking About My Sex LifeHow grown men ruin their nieces’ childhoods. — A few weeks ago, I watched a YouTube video in which comedian Maddie Wiener made a joke about uncles being “halfway between a father and a stranger.” I laughed along, then winced at the painful memories the sentiment brought up. …Bitchy7 min readBitchy7 min read
