Thread by @autistictic, Today I am going to share something very personal with you all, [...]

Today I am going to share something very personal with you all, because I know I am not the only one experiencing this but it is not talked about enough:

Why „Get therapy!“ or „Get help!“ can be almost insulting things to say to a multiply marginalized person - a thread:

(1/14)

To start: I do NEED help!

I need help with

- multiple chronic physical health problems.
- severe anxiety.
- autism related issues, esp. Executive Dysfunction.
- trauma & PTSD.
- trans related issus, esp. body dysphoria

All of these things are also why I can’t GET help.

(2/14)

I have tried seeking help countless times in my life.

I went to neurologists, eye doctors, ENT doctors, GPs, Emergency rooms, OTs, etc.

The second they learn I‘m autistic/have anxiety, that‘s what they blame everything on and they simply don‘t give me proper healthcare.

(3/14)

I went to psychiatrists, psychologists, psycho therapists, behavior therapists, group therapy, in-patient & out-patient mental health wards, etc.

There‘s NO-ONE who properly supports my autism. They just do more harm every time - which I have to recover from unsupported.

(4/14)

Physical healthcare professionals are incapable of integrating my anxiety and autism into their care.

Mental healthcare professionals are incapable of integrating my physical health issues into theirs and of supporting my autism properly.

(5/13)

Healthcare professionals are‘t only incapable of providing me with proper healthcare - they also blame ME for that.

They say I‘m

„too complex“
„non-compliant“
„treatment resistant“
„doctor shopping“

and more.

Blaming the patient absolves them of responsibility. Easy!

(6/14)

Every professional I see, I must tell a lot about me to get adequate care.

If I don‘t, I 100% don‘t receive adequate care.

If I do, I usually also don‘t receive adequate care...but to have ANY chance, I must try.

This = access barrier due to exhaustion and distress.

(7/14)

I need help every day.

But due to over a decade of inadequate healthcare through no fault of my own, my health is now so bad I can‘t go out and see healthcare professionals anymore.

Can‘t speak.
Can‘t explain.
Can‘t self-advocate.
Can’t do the things.

So I get sicker.

(8/14)

It‘s a known fact that healthcare is riddled with inaccessibility barriers for people from marginalized backgrounds.

Race (not applicable to me), gender, sexuality, disability, class, location, education...every marginalized identity faces barriers in healthcare.

(9/14)

So frankly, when people tell me to „Get help.“ it is insulting.

Either you have not even considered all the existing access barriers, in which case: do better.

Or you know, but still think it‘s my fault, I could if I only wanted to, bla bla, in which case: do better.

(10/14)

So next time you want to tell someone to „Get help!“,

stop for a minute, consider all the access barriers society has put up for marginalized people,

and then choose not to perpetuate blaming marginalized people for their own marginalization, hmkay?

Thanks.

(11/14)

To any healthcare professionals reading this:

If this makes you defensive, don‘t bother me with that.
Work that out in our own space.

If you truly aren‘t „one of those people“, you don‘t need to tell anyone. Your actions prove it to your patients every single time.

(12/14)

Finally:

I hope I don‘t die prematurely because healthcare professionals are incapable of doing right by me.

I probably will.

Many of my people already have & continue to do so.

That‘s fucking stressful to live with.

So if you have power to change this shit, do it!

(13/14)

I could write a book about my health issues, disabilities, marginalization in healthcare, what „professionals“ have done to me, access barriers, etc.

But I‘m in acute burnout, so I won‘t.

If this isn‘t enough for you, that‘s a you-problem.

Thanks for reading!

(14/14)

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