A Plate of Pride: A Recipe For Asking For Help With An Invisible Disability

Disclaimer: I don’t cook. In fact, true story, when my twin step-daughters were home from college for the holidays they opened the oven to bake cookies and found a cookie sheet filled with shriveled up, burnt, miniature hot dogs inside. Apparently, I must have forgotten to serve that second tray of appetizers at the party we had almost two months prior. With that said, I am not your go-to cooking expert. You should feel free to adjust any ingredients needed and modify any recipe I ever give you.

The Key Ingredients For This Recipe Are: Confidence, Humility, Honesty, Empathy & Humor

The most important ingredient for getting what you want and need when you have non-obvious physical challenges is confidence.

 5 CUPS OF CONFIDENCE

The most important ingredient for getting what you want and need when you have non-obvious physical challenges is confidence. It’s the base that every other ingredient adheres and mixes into.

Confidence is not a fast food item that you can easily find. It must be grown and nurtured in-house. Everyone has the ability to get confidence, but some people have easier access, and more resources.

Confidence is not seen; it is felt. A person with a disability can shout it from a rooftop wearing an “I have a disability” or, “I survived _____,” but still lack true self-confidence. This can be all show.  Likewise, a person can conceal her leg braces, or large scars, and be über self-assured and not want, or need, an exterior label.

Confident people can, and do, have insecure moments. No one is 100% confident in every situation. A confident person knows this and owns her insecure feelings.

It is never easy asking people for help to do seemingly easy tasks.

2 CUPS OF HUMILITY

It is never easy asking people for help to do seemingly easy tasks. This is especially true if you’re a Type A person like myself.

But, we have to remind ourselves that able people are not mind-readers and unless a person has physical challenges of her own, she cannot intuitively get your need for an arm to hold for balance, or your need, rather than want, for that close-to-the-exit space in barre class.

Swallowing our pride doesn’t have to cost us anything. In fact, it can be low, or 0, calories if we remember to use a sugar substitute. We are not entitled to the space in exercise class or the lounger closest to the pool. No one wants to help people they find to be rude and condescending.

We may need it and want it, but in order to get something when someone else already has it, we must be kind in our words. We also must accept the fact that 99% of the time people will do the right thing when we ask them for something in a respectful way. We should not give any of our power away to the 1% of people who won’t. This is something I struggle with (just ask the guy who took my lounger at a certain Miami resort and is probably throwing darts at my photo), but I’m working on it.

Telling your story does not have to define your forever interactions with people.

2 CUPS OF HONESTY

Mix in equal parts humility and honesty. I would recommend the organic kind, found in non-processed, real-food stores.

When I used to make up stories about walking funny because of a “sports injury,” I felt good about myself for about 5 minutes. I was trying so hard to be something that I mistakenly thought made me look and seem better. I was trying to be a perfect person who had that perfect kind of person accident on a ski slope somewhere in Aspen.

Perfectionism is actually more about the fear of not being accepted or good enough. People try so hard not to show the things about themselves that in reality make them more likable and relatable to others.

Telling your story does not have to define your forever interactions with people. But, if you are honest with people and tell it, (but don’t overdo it) it can, and will, make you closer.

Try not to make assumptions and be judgmenal about someone else.

2 TABLESPOONS OF EMPATHY

Try not to make assumptions and be judgmental about someone else’s cart. If you knew I had physical limitations and saw my basket filled with overpriced, prepared, specialty-store foods, you might assume I can’t cook. Ok, well that’s true, as you already know, but you get the point. You may think it has something to do with my physical challenges when in reality it’s more a preference than a limitation. Don’t worry, my kids’ dad cooks and they are well nourished 50% of the time.

In order to get what you want from others in a way that feels good for both parties, you need to get out of your own head and also be aware of what others may want and need.

We never really know what’s going on in other people’s lives. If you want people to begin understanding your cues, then start paying attention to theirs. Everyone has stuff.

Humor adds flavor to everything.

A PINCH OF HUMOR

Humor is the ultimate dipping sauce for everything. It gives bland items flavor and makes delicious french fries taste even better.

When asking for help with something, like carrying your plate of food for you in a buffet line, make a joke to ease your discomfort. Say for example, “Do you mind helping me carry this plate to my table? I know if I try with my poor balance, it’s gonna end up all over that woman in the white dress.”

You can do anything, but not everything.

THE SECRET SAUCE

Asking for help takes practice. Try taking very small bites and chew slowly.

You can learn to ask for what you want without feeling like you’re a weak person for doing so. In fact, by using the right mix of ingredients, you will feel far more confident, happier, and have higher quality interpersonal relationships.

As a wise person once said, “You can do anything, but not everything.” Be that badass woman who is smart and self-reliant enough to ask for help when you need it.

Lainie Ishbia

Lainie Ishbia is a mom, wife,  blogger, speaker, licensed therapist & woman living with Charcot Marie Tooth Disorder, an inherited and slowly progressive neuromuscular disorder affecting the peripheral nerves. Although Lainie wears two leg braces and struggles with buttoning her own jeans, she doesn't allow her physical challenges to prevent her from wearing cute shoes & clothing in order to look and feel her best. Lainie created a fashion and lifestyle website called Trend-Able.com to empower other women with invisible physical disabilities to do the same.