Stability after Disability

By Patricia Curty

When you think of disability, what comes to mind? You might assume that it is a medical term, but I was surprised to find out it is not medical. It is a legal term. Understanding disability is the first step of being stable. I have included my testimony as it pertains to the Word of God. I have some resources for you in the book: I have a few devotionals, some mental health worksheets, and I teach you how to do routines and to plan to reach your goal of becoming stable.

This book will teach you how to be a published author and increase your income and leave a legacy for the next generation. This book will help you practice using your imagination and get your creative juices flowing to come up with your vision.

A vision is something that is the end result that you want to accomplish. A vision is important because you don't want life to make decisions for you. Deciding if you want to create a legacy of faith for your kids is a life-and-death situation. There is life and death in the tongue. This book has practical information that you can apply today to reach your vision.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885402057

Book preview

cover.jpg

Stability after Disability

Patricia Curty

ISBN 979-8-88540-204-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-205-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Patricia Curty

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

1

What Does Disability Mean?

2

Younger Years

3

Stability after Disability

4

My Vision

5

Leadership

6

Finances

7

Self-Care

8

Purpose

Budget Sheet

My Self-Care Action Plan

Prayer Journal Prompt

Grow in God

Daily Self-Reflection

Character Worksheet

Express Anger Worksheet

Constructive Thinking Worksheet

Bibliography

Get Started on Your Dreams Now!

About the Author

Dedication

I want to dedicate my book to my attentive hubby Aldin

(Psalm 23)

And to the beautiful kids

(Proverbs 13:22) A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.

1

What Does Disability Mean?

Disability is a legal term versus a medical term. I became medically disabled before I was legally disabled. When I read that, court just popped into my head, and yes, court is part of the process. It is not the whole process. When I became legally disabled, there were some laws that I did not know about that I have to follow: If I faint, I can't drive for ninety days. If I do not take my meds, I can get committed by the court to take meds, or I go to the hospital. There are also laws put in place to protect my money from creditors so that my funds cannot be garnished if I get sued.

I was not born disabled. This was something that I had gotten later in life and had to learn how to live all over again. It took me years to get my mental and physical disability under control. What it's like to have a disability is kind of like trying to stop a period. I can't help what my body does sometimes, and I can't stop it. Now that I take medication, it is more manageable. Most people do not realize that mental illness is a chemical imbalance next to impossible to control without medication. With medication, it is more manageable but not perfect.

I do not rely on counselors to treat my mental health. I use coping skills. Counselors for me, that relationship has never really been stable. I have had at least four different counselors in a year, and now, instead of every week, I will be lucky to get in once a month! I rely on prayer, my kids, meditation, reading, writing, exercise, and cleaning.

I also like to do nice things for my husband and my mom. I do notice that talking helps, only if I completely talk about something and have a game plan in place. God is my biggest coping skill, and then, of course, next it's my kids and my husband.

My disability is bipolar disorder, PTSD, and rheumatoid arthritis. I have other health issues too, like seizures, gastroparesis, brain tumor, fibromyalgia, fainting, multiple sclerosis, and irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin rash called rosacea. I take ten different medications and see sixteen different doctors. It can get really tiring sometimes because I go to the doctor at least twice a week, sometimes every day. But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:29).

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

By his stripes I am healed (1 Peter 2:24).

My disability affects how I work. I am learning how to take working slow because I do not like to be hospitalized. I faint if I work too hard. I also get hospitalized for medication management since I have so many allergies to medications (I have a lot of allergies and I have an EpiPen in case of anaphylaxis happens.). I noticed that I can work fine part-time for a year, and then all my symptoms that were under control no longer are, and I have to start over, and that is one of my triggers. This can happen because I can grow a tolerance to my medication. When my disability started to get really bad, it did all at once within eight months.

I went from no symptoms, seeing no doctors, to having all that wrong, plus carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome (I no longer have both of those, praise the Lord!) to seeing seventeen doctors (I no