What is Masking?
Francis tries to hide himself to fit in by wearing a mask. Masking is way of hiding your emotions and feelings to try to fit in with others. I did it for years, to try to be 'normal'. Writing books is a big turning point in life for me. I am going to show the world who I really am!
Raising Awareness
Did you know? Ehlers-Danlos patients are often called zebras? It is due to the many symptoms they exhibit. That is why I chose for Francis to wear a zebra mask, he is representing me. Ehlers-Danlos can be very painful and day to day tasks can be very tough. It can be so frustrating when people think it is all in your head. Just because you can not see it, does not mean it's not real.
Whether you or someone you know has Ehlers-Danlos or not, mental disabilities can also be detrimental and impact ones mental health. It can be hard to get an accurate diagnoses. Luckily, there are many support groups and resources online. Learn more by checking out the links below.
Awesome Resource for Autism. Perfect for parents, teachers, and yourself! National Initiative of the Arc.
Great place to find information on EDS or HSD, support groups, and even a helpline!
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
ADHD and ADD tests, treatments, behavior & discipline plans.
Milavetz Law, P.A. put together a wonderful guide on driving with a disability! They put a special focus on what to know about driving with autism. It also discusses the difficulties of learning to drive with autism.
Sometimes to manage the distressing symptoms of a mental health disorder or other chronic health conditions people turn to drugs or alcohol. This free web guide is a resource for people who are looking to take the next step and learn more about recovery.