Unemployment, feelings of worthlessness with disabilities and what to do

We've all been there in the disabled community—feeling worthless after a certain period of time without being within the traditional realms of productivity (work, school, chores, and errands). We can begin to feel as if we are worth less than the average or even as if we are worth nothing. This mentality comes from the modern ethos that "productivity = worth." This is often displayed through the hustle and grind culture, which glorifies overworking yourself and getting no sleep. When you have disabilities, you often have to pace yourself, and there is nothing wrong or lazy about that. Your worth is inherent; it does not depend on what you put out. You are not a human doing; you are a human being. You are worthy just because you exist, and you do not need to prove that worth by exerting yourself past your limits. Just because there is a societal paradigm of disabled people being perceived as "useless" and/or "lazy" does not mean it is true.

There are quite a lot of ways of thinking in society that are just simply not true, inaccurate, or harmful, especially towards marginalized groups. Going with the crowd is not always in your best interest, as the crowd's path may be leading straight off a cliff. It is the failure of society to acknowledge variations in human bodily function and form, and it is society's failure to be equitable to those who deserve it; it is not a personal failing of the individual. We should be valuing each other based not only on our inherent worth as sentient beings but also on whether or not that person has a good character and is affable, or if that person is constantly spewing vitriol at their fellow humans.

When you are disabled, your body functions differently, and rest is even more paramount to functioning than it would be in our able-bodied counterparts. Since resting is key to function, it is actually a more productive act than you might have been led to believe.

When you rest, you are taking care of yourself. Pacing yourself is the only way to get to the finish line without hurting yourself. It is hurting yourself and not honouring your body's limits that is counterproductive. Do not ever feel like you rest too much or need too many breaks. When a body is sick or injured, recovery is necessary. Something fun I always say to tell myself is "Take a lot of naps and accomplish that sh*t."

If you are out of work due to disability, I have some tips for you:

1. Pursue a hobby in place of occupation.

This will give you something to look forward to every day. It can leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Do not pressure yourself to do strenuous hobbies; pick something that is feasible within your abilities and limitations. This can also serve as the answer to that dreaded question "What do you do?"

2. Create To-Do Lists / “When I Can” Lists to Build a Routine

When you either work from home or can’t work at all, a daily activity list can truly change your life. You don’t have to finish everything on the list, but having some type of structure in your day can greatly support your mental health. Feeling like each day is the same, or like you're living in a haze, can contribute to depression—which is common with some disabilities and chronic illnesses. Being able to cross off an activity each day, or at least most days, can help build your self-esteem. Make sure to include fun activities on your list as well.

3. Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

Your body is already going through a lot. Being disabled is not a fate worse than death, but it is definitely challenging. As humans, we are all just doing our best with the circumstances we have. Think about how an able-bodied person would behave during a temporary injury or illness—they would rest without feeling shame. It’s only when someone doesn’t fully recover that society places shame on them for not being able to do as much. Not everything in life is within our control or a matter of willpower. You didn’t ask for this—you’re doing your best, and sometimes doing your best means taking time to rest and recover.

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Take it easy, fierce fam!