This is my fight-utilizing weapons of words, medications, and therapy in the ongoing battle. While many often associate this fight with former soldiers or others who have been in warzones, those are not the only demons at hand. There are others, though, that people fight in the dark, because the social stigma of them can be a silence spell, where the anxiety of the possible response is more encompassing than the darkness of suffering alone. There are disabilities that the world can observe and recognize. Let us celebrate those differences and the unique perspective they bring.ĭisabilities come in many forms. We are each so individual, with our own needs and concerns, often not obvious to others. I catch myself annoyed by someone’s fidgeting or apparent distraction at the table and remind myself that this may be their coping mechanism, just as I have mine. Dietary restrictions are a challenge, especially when traveling or wanting to socialize. I always feel terrible when I do, even though most of our community has been wonderfully supportive. Still, I can be caught out with an unexpected flare and have to pull out of playing, or worse, running a game. The major disadvantage is that when I am having a bad day, it is difficult for some to understand, as I look “normal.” Over time, I have become better at learning my limits and predicting some of those times that I need to cut back on commitments. The major advantage to this is that when I have a good day, no one prejudges me simply based on appearance.
None of my health concerns are obvious by looking at me. I am grateful for the Paizo Organized Play community, where I found an accepting and welcoming home. Partly this was because of a complex interaction of several chronic mental and physical conditions which can limit my abilities.
I’ve played many systems over the years, though usually only briefly and with long breaks between. Within a year, I was running games at my all-girls high school. I started playing RPGs in the mid-late ‘70s, enjoying the original D&D with its flimsy booklets and fun dice. Ivix, Illustration by Sebastien Rodriguez, from the Starfinder Society Organized Play Program