Category: Working & Disabilities

Coping With Life When You Are Disabled.

March 3, 2021 / Admin / 1 Comment

Copying With life When You Are Disabled.

I have this methology “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. I am not the type of person to whinge and moan, I just make the most of what I have and try to get on with it.

I always keep myself busy and set goals. However my physical and mental disabilities are obstacles that daily I have to get round.

My OCD is by far one of my prominent disabilities and have designed a quarantined cocoon area where only I have access to. This area allows me to be free of any anxieties that I would have in the normal environment. I have adopted this practice to save cleaning my whole home from top to bottom day in and day out. Believe me I used to clean from top to bottom every single day until I realised I was wasting valuable time doing something else.

Keeping myself busy does help to block out intrusive thoughts to a certain degree. I am the worlds worse for critising myself. I try to brain train to reason with myself that what I do is ridiculous and out of character to normal people, but it all is related to stress, anxiety and depression. Depending how stress I am under will depend how well my day will be. If I am super stressed, I find that I cannot concentrate and even do minuscule tasks.

My OCD is germ contamination related and I am even more conscious of my surrounding and the things that I touch. I dislike people visting me and visa versa. I prefer not to go out, hence I am not going out any time soon pandemic regulations or not.

I actually wrote an article on my other blog about germ awareness and cross contamination: https://marketingagency.cymrumarketing.com/2021/02/16/saliva-and-mail-cross-contamination-of-germs/

As for my other disabilities:

Cerebellar Atrophy (I lose my balance or grip and muddle my words up especially when I write, I also have mental blocks).
OCD (I am aware of germ cross contimination and and am careful what I touch).
Social Disconnection (I prefer my own company and not go out and socialise, although we can’t anyway but you get my drift).
PTSD (I have flashbacks of the physical and mental trauma I endured in the past and certain things trigger my depression).
Clinical Depression (This is related to past physical and mental trauma I endured, in which there are days where I go to a dark place).
Rheumatoid Arthritis (I cannot bend my knee, again from past physical trauma/abuse).
Dysphagia (I sometimes choke of food, I get a painful feeling followed by trouble swallowing and breathing and only when the food is dislodged does the feeling subside, gross I know but what can I do? I have been told I could have surgery but there is no gauarantee that it would work. I am not going to go under the knife for anything, I can tell you that for sure).
Epidural Analgesia (Chronic Back Pain, even bending down to feed the cat makes my back spasm, the same goes if I am standing for excessive length of time I have shooting pains from the small of my back to the nape of my neck. Simple taskes like taking out the rubbish or bringing in the grocery shopping has brought tears to my eyes in the past).

So yes I have good days and bad days but I do not dwell on my ailments and try to live the best way I can. I adapt to around my disabilities. Fortuantely for me I offer digital services so I can do 100% of my work online and do not have to venture out.

Stress and worry are contributing factors to my OCD, PTSD, Depression and Social Disconnection.

Getting headaches (I have regular headaches)
Having stomach cramps (I have a bad stomach most days, but that can be from drinking energy drinks to keep me awake).
Not being able to sleep (I find my medication helps me sleep but it takes a few hours for me to wind down, hence I watch a film or play a game, I also read books from time to time).
Feeling pains in your chest (I do not get them often but when I do it is scary as I have also experienced jaw ache and shooting pain down my left arm in the past). I have had an ecg scan done and the doctor said there was nothing wrong, yet the same doctor also prescribed antacid ‘Gaviscon’ to my daughter even though she was later diagnosed with MS after I admitted her into A&E.
Having constant worring (If I do not keep myself busy I do worry hence I try to keep my mind occupied all the time). Worrying only makes your health deteriorate and although life struggles can get in the way of your happiness, one needs to find a way to tackle the problem we are faced with, rather than sweep them under the carpet. Confronting your inner demons makes you stronger. Sometimes simply writing down your problems is the first step to dealing with whatever is on your mind. Talking to a friend or family member also helps but for me expessing my emotions in the form of a blog is theraputic in itself.
Having panic attacks (I only get these if I have to meet negative people). People that judge or critise, you know the people I am talking about or if I have a deadline in work or something that I have seen or heard that has triggered the onset of sheer panic. However for most part I am organised and know to how to avoid trigger warnings, so panic attacks are subdued.
Feeling shortness of breath, (I only get this if I cannot swallow due to my Dysphagia or at times when I have in the past been in distress, due to the trauma and abuse I endured).
Having mood swings with friends or family (I avoid socialising so no one knows my moods and no one can be on the tail end if I do have a bad day).
Finding it hard to feel happy (Continuously reassuring myself and staying positive that what I am doing will eventually change my life for the better, is enough to motivate me to get up and tackle every day tasks).

Although I was going to do a daily/weekly journal of my health, I am not able to do so at present as I have many projects I am working on and simply do not have the time, but I always try to strive to stay focused and optimistic that tomorrow will be a better day.

Obviously adopting a healthy lifestyle can help with coping with life struggles, such as:

Regular Exercise
Breathing Exercise
Meditation
Eating Healthily
Brain Training
Learning New Things
Staying Focused
Being Organised
Setting Goals
Time Management
Avoiding Negative People
Learning to Trust People
Motivation
Talking to Family and Friends About Your Troubles
Discussing your Problems with Professionals, Health, Finance, Relationships etc

Final Thoughts!

I am a disabled entrepreneur and I have created a business round my disabilities. The way I saw it when I first started out, I would not fit in or be accepted in a normal working enviroment and I am the most happiest I have ever been for a long time doing what I do and it works for me. So the way I see it is my disabilities are a blessing in disguise, as I would not be where I am today without them.

I avoid negative judgemental people especially if they have power trips (Trolls especially that have nothing better to do than try an bring a person down, these get immediately blocked).

As for me I will help anyone that genuinely needs my help. I am very good at analysing people and situations and I am very astute.

Stay safe, stay focused and stay motivated, nothing stays the same forever unless you let it…

Benefits of Working From Home

October 14, 2020 / Admin / 0 Comments

Working from home is now becoming the new norm and where people with disabilities may find it more difficult to work in normal working environments they can essentially adapt their homes around their disabilities.

The days of lining someone else’s pockets whilst you slog your guts out for someone else are long gone when you finally can say you are your own boss.

You no longer will have to explain yourself to no one and you will not be scrutinized if you come in late or take time off work. You can choose the hours you work to suit you.

The feeling you have once you master how to make a living from the comfort of your armchair is very rewarding and the feeling is amazing. You finally can say you have found a purpose in life.

Working as an entrepreneur does not come without hard work. You have to put in the hours which in turn will make your business into equity. Your business will become your asset once you become successful.

1. You can set your own hours of work

You can choose the hours you work and if you work from home you basically eliminate travel time and travel costs. Some people find it difficult to get up early for work. Working for yourself you get started whenever you are ready and not a minute before. Your efforts will be rewarded by the amount of time you put into your business. What you put in is what you will get out.

2. Scheduling your day around you.

Where before you would need to have a childminder whilst you were at work you now have the freedom to child mind whilst working for yourself. Why have a stranger bring up your child when you can do it yourself. By setting up critical time paths (CTP) you can schedule your routine around your home life and your business and have more flexibility in taking your children to school, doing errands, and going to the gym.

3. Setting Foundations

A business startup starts with an idea that is branded, foundations set and the wheels are put in motion to allow the business to grow and be nurtured. You need a business plan and carefully construct all the steps to make your business a winning success.

4. Office politics

In a normal working environment, you can not sit and chat you have to get on with your work which you will be scrutinized and even reprimanded. On the other hand, working for yourself you can choose to chat and for however long you like without it interfering with your work and you won’t have someone looking over your shoulder.

5. Earning potential

It is actually possible to make a decent living from working online, vlogging, dropshipping, and influencing and affiliate marketing. Many millionaires have been made this way. You can also offer services like website design, marketing, and SEO. Research and learn everything there is to know about setting a business from home. Remember nothing is guaranteed especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. You will only get what you put in. Being an entrepreneur will not make you a millionaire overnight, you need to work hard at it to succeed.

6. Turning your Business into a Success

You will have more time to do the things you like once you have built your empire. You will then be able to work as many or as few hours as you like once your business is a success giving you more time to do things you love doing such as painting, photography, traveling, volunteering and charity events, etc.

7. The World is your Oyster

You are only a step away from being your own boss and there is plenty of advice on the internet including books that you can read. Knowledge is Wealth. What you learn no one can take away and that in itself is an asset.

Here are some books I recommend you reading:

Personal Independance Payments

October 7, 2020 / Admin / 0 Comments

Personal Independance Payment – DWP

There is a social stigma attached to people who have disabilities and ministers of the DWP are making it difficult for people that are disabled to obtain a better quality of life.

Some disabled people need the extra financial help to get about and for disability aids and in my case Dettol, face masks and disposable gloves, disinfectants, and cleaning products.

Some may need to pay someone to do household chores or gardening etc. Some need help to attend doctor’s appointments etc. So there is a whole list of things that disabled people may need to spend their money on just because they have a disability.

This newspaper article is a bit old, two years old in fact but as the journalist suggests the system is very controversial:

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/disabled-entrepreneurs-business-uk-scheme-stelios-invention-a8590111.html

Ministers are doing everything in their power to make claims even more difficult. By forcing disabled people back to work they essentially are trying to bring the unemployment levels down.

I understand that in some cases there are some that are playing the system but for the rest of the honest folk that genuinely need financial help, it is unfair to put everyone in the same stratosphere and force them into work when they are genuinely not fit to do so.

Here is a link to other PIP news: https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/tag/pip/

Some people genuinely need financial help especially on low incomes and would not be needing help otherwise.

From my own personal experience, both my daughter and I had our claims rejected in the past even though I have suffered from my disability for over 30 years and my daughter who has a brain, spine lesions and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was told there is nothing wrong with her.

If people are entitled to the money then they should get it without having to beg.

Don’t make a law and then move goalposts. If there is enough medical evidence to corroborate a claim and proof the person has a disability then do not make their lives even more miserable than they already are.

Do not go to lengths of humiliating a person to perform like a performing circus seal,

Degrading a Person because they claim to be disabled.

so that you can assess them. There are Specialist Doctor Consultants & Professors who have enough qualifications to diagnose a person without a person being degraded and have their dignity taken away from them. This in itself is discriminating, traumatic, and extremely humiliating.

People with disabilities do not choose to be disabled. I am sure people if they had a choice they would not choose to be disabled.

People with disabilities may be forced to work or maybe forced into working for themselves if they cannot find suitable work or in some cases, employers may not be willing to employ a disabled person especially for health and safety reasons. It is hard to prove an employer is discriminating if they do not give a job to a disabled person.

A disabled person who cannot make ends meet may consider entrepreneurship as a necessity rather than a desire.

When disabled people are not considered for jobs because of their disabilities as their disability could be a hindrance or health and safety issue the frustration of not finding suitable employment can go one of two ways either the person gives up looking for work, loses confidence and self-esteem or may try to work for themselves if there is no other way.

I chose to work for myself not that I had to but more because I wanted to. I was ready to start back up again after the birth of my daughter and taking time out to raise her I also had a chance to partially heal and return to work. I knew working for someone would not be an ideal option because of my disabilities and in a way regardless if I had a disability or not I would still have chosen to work for myself. I have always been independent. By being self-employed gives you a reason to get up in the mornings and gives you a status that you are your own boss and that you are independent and people can look up to you providing you give them something valuable like a product, service, or a piece of advice.

I find what I do very satisfying and helping people gives me a sense of purpose.

PURPOSE.

Unlike some disabled people who are on the sick indefinitely and have lost all motivation to go back to work because they have been rejected so many times, I actually do have a purpose.

I know for others it is simply impossible to hold down a job and it would be reckless to stop benefits or force someone to work when their disabilities are so severe or if they are terminally ill that they literally cannot work. Read this article about a terminally ill person that died: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49524259 People who do not know how to defend themselves will be penalized.

By doing what I am doing is therapy. Not only am I helping others, I am essentially also helping myself. Just because you have a disability and you are mobile (providing it is not severe – depending on the disability) you can still essentially work and if you cannot find work then create one!

If a person is self-employed and disabled and applies for personal independence payment it is not that they cannot work as they are already working and are applying for extra financial support.

This type of person is defined that they are trying to prosper and want some financial help. They cannot be categorized and associated in the same bracket with people who are lazy and want to be unemployed for the rest of their lives and are even perhaps trying to scam the system.

Supporting medical evidence can prove if a person is disabled or not.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Entrepreneurship is not easy. You need to have an idea of what you are trying and achieve and have all the building blocks to build a foundation for your business. You need to learn the skills and master them to perfection. You need to want to do the job rather than having to do the job.

Not everyone has it in them to work for themselves. most are clueless and prefer to just work for someone else. Some just do not have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Consider what you can do to start a business from the ground up, there is tons of information out there if you know where to look.

If you crave independence and want to be your own boss you need to be able to find a niche that you are going to be good at and live and breathe your idea and make it into reality. There are plenty of tools and help on the internet to get you started. There is also a lot of financial support for low-income families on the GOV website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities

To Apply For Personal Independance Payments Visit:

https://www.gov.uk/pip

If you have found this article usuful do likem share and comment.

Sending blessing from the disabled entrepreneur.