anyone have a good way of dealing with physical disabilities?

Question

i have a genetic bone condition which means i break/ crack a bone roughly every couple of years. the symptoms of my condition are pretty much supposed to stop when i get to about 20 years old (not long to go, im 18) but sometimes it gets me so depressed. the thought of breaking another bone actually scares the shi t out of me, partly cos i hate how people react and being judged, partly cos im a musician and i cant play if ive hurt my arm, and partly cos im a man and i dont want to be weak (although im muscular and dont look like i have a problem). i dont know if/ how i can get it through it if it happens again. also i worry about doing something that will do permanent damage, like break my neck or something. also sometimes it dettaches me from my friends, cos i cant tell a lot of them cos i know they wont understand or will act differently around me. anyone have any tips on how to deal with this? anyone else have a similar problem?
thanks a lot

Answer 1

i think that your assumption that none of your friends will understand is flawed, though i can understand why you'd think that.

you feel different and that's enough for you i suppose.

i have a good friend who is a hemopheliac, which means that his blood does not clot effectively - a small cut can bleed and bleed. but it also means much more than this - for instance, what could be a normal bruise to you and me, is a big deal to him.

all of his friends know it, and none have ever treated him differently. he's married and has a nice wife and does all sorts of activities with us - such as biking or playing basketball.

i think that it sounds like you have a pretty good life and i think that's what you should focus on. any one of us could, if we chose to, focus on the negative things about our lives and get very depressed about it indeed.

you have a lot going for you, as you have described. you are strong and fit and are a musician.

my advice to you would be to watch the sunrise tomorrow morning and count your blessings and trust your friends to know about your life.

if they really do treat you differently, then maybe you should re-evaluate if they are truly your friends - this does not mean that you have to be 'weak' in the way you tell anyone anything.

it just is what it is, and you are who you are - your true friends should have no problem with that...

Answer 2

The answer above is a good one with sensible advice. The only thing I would add is that maybe you should consider councelling to help you through this tough time. It isnt a sign of weakness, it takes strength to go through councelling.
Talk to your friends, Im sure you will be pleasnantly surprised about how they view your illness.
Be careful but concentrate on the good things in your life and have fun;