sasha_feather: Kira Nerys from deep space nine (Kira)
sasha_feather ([personal profile] sasha_feather) wrote2020-08-09 01:12 pm

Chronic illness, Star Trek, Trust

Having a type of anxiety dream lately where I'm trying to work, but am too sick to work. Sometimes it's school, or a formal job, or a household job like washing piles of dishes. I keep trying to push myself and it's not successful.

This is something that I did, of course, for maybe 15 years. My brain is still processing it and will be for a long time.

I re-read this lovely essay by my friend Nicasio Andres Reed:
"You Have only Your Trust in Me": Star Trek and the power of mutual belief.

https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-have-only-your-trust-in-me-star-trek-and-the-power-of-mutual-belief/

How wonderful and empowering it is to believe people about their experiences, and to trust them. I didn't feel believed about my illness when it came to my family. I didn't fully trust people I worked with, even at my better jobs. I still don't get the sense that my doctors understand my experience (again, even the better docs), which is maybe why I have a persistent fantasy about being treated by a Star Fleet doctor.

The people I came to trust, the people that believed me, were my friends. People from fandom, mostly. Other disabled folks, people of color, trans and queer people. Thank you friends, for this.

[personal profile] jesse_the_k in particular demonstrates the "I believe you, what can I do to help?" attitude, and she brings this to access work. This is why we say, Access is first and foremost an attitude. It is this attitude, an open, trusting, non-judgmental attitude, that is so transformative. It is part of the future I want to inhabit.

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