I'll start by telling you a little about myself. I live in San Diego, California, U.S.A. I've been on the Daily Strength Website since October 2007. I'm currently in a bit of a financial bind that leaves me unable to pursue my goals such as getting driving lessons and a driver's license, but I'm looking for employment and other possibilities that will allow me to do this. I like outdoor rollerblading, walking, and trees. I'd like to work in a job where I can help people. I have started two other groups on this website, the Laughter Club and Missing Persons, that you are welcome to join. Now it's your turn.

Hi every one i'am carla7777,a bit about me,as you know i am disable and in a scooter,trying to fight cronic pain every day of my life,anyone else here haveing the same problum,trying to find a way to be happy liveing this way,don't know what to do with myself any more it's hard,do you have any advice to offer..

Hi.
My name is Vicki. I am a special education teacher. I teach 2nd and 3rd grade students this year. Who knows about next? I am divorced and I live alone with 2 cats. I should say they allow me to live in their house. They are my babies. Ozzie is a real character, and Maggie May is the sweetest kitty in the world.
I have a lot of friends and hobbies which include making jewelry, growing things, riding my bike, and fashion. I have a beautiful new sports car. Bright yellow convertible.
I am the founder of several groups here on DS: I Am Thankful, Bipolar II, Spiritual but not Religious, and Shopaholics.
Hugs,
Vicki

Hi I'm Jennay in Denver Colorado with my sweetheart Tom and love dog Clarke. I have been on DS for over a year and begin with the need for anger management and friendship. I had just attempted suicide and was in a bad place after a chronic illness. Now I am with a new doctor and doing much better even trying to go back to work and start my own part time business with floral design. I really depend on Tom and have very little family and they are distant. I count my blessings. I have faith and hope in the future with Gods help. I enjoy the woods and floral design and am trying to get back into cooking and baking. I also try some gardening in pots. I was a chef and baker for 12yrs before getting ill. I have PTSD since childhood and an immune disorder that came on 5yrs ago. I don't like crowds or living in the city. About to move into new apartment in June and start a part time job doing floral design for weddings and events. I am hopeful my stamina will sustain with my new medication. God bless you all.

hi! i am jeanne. i am disabled. i have bi-polar, i lost my sis in an accident on october 25, 2008. my hubby was critically injured also. he broke all his bones on his lt. side of his body and had a brain bleed. he almost died. i have diabetes, hbp, high cholesterol, thyroid problems,sleeping problems and i take 3 different types of insulins and 2 different types of pills for my out-of-control diabetes and i have chronic back pain. i am severely overweight and i was sexually abused by my dad, uncle, cousin, and grand daddy when i was 9. i was taken from my home when i was 14. i tried to kill myself. since then i have been in and out of hospitals and group homes. i have been in and out of them since i've been an adult and have almost succeeded 3 times. the last almost fatal attempt was on january 4, 2006. the same uncle i mentioned ealier held me at gun point when i was 23 and made me have sex with him while his girlfriend watched and participated. i have a very screwed up life. and yet it still keeps going on and on. will it ever stop? i doubt it very seriously. i've been on ds since the 1st week ok april. oh, and i'm not taking any of my meds {except a select few}. i'm doing this kind of slow suicide thing... yall have a blessed night.

My name is Chloe. I am 24. I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is a form of Muscular Dystrophy. I also have Bipolar II which I believe I inherited from my father. When I was born, doctors did not understand what was wrong with me. I had a severe curvature of my spine and not very much muscle tone or strength. Doctors told my parents I would probably not survive. This was too much for my father to handle and he committed suicide when I was a week or two old. My mother became very depressed and began drinking alcohol in excess to drown out her pain. She was often neglectful of me and sometimes abusive. I spent a lot of my childhood in and out of the hospital for treatments and surgeries and at group homes or in foster care. When I was 20 I moved to the city because my mother told me she wanted me to leave home. I had no where to go but I was blessed when a family member took me into her home. Social services helped me to get a wheelchair / accessible apartment of my own. I took some classes at a community college and met a man who I fell in love with and married last July. He was born deaf and mute. We live together now with my service dog Sprocket who is a beautiful golden retriever. Thank you!

Hi everyone. My name is Maddi, or Liz, or Renee depending on which side of me you are talking to at any given point. Mostly I ma Maddi. As you might have guessed, I have DID, but hey, who cares, right?

Anyway, I was born blind, with bilateral cateracts. I had surgery and now have just enough sight to see. Well, actually I have just enough sight for a drivers license, but I dont like to drive too much because I know it isnt as good as other people's vision and I dont want to be responsible for anything that might go wrong. I was also born a floppy baby, and have developed scoliosis and still have muscle weakness.

Despite these things I am at uni studying to be a counsellor. I want to help people through tough life situations as I have experienced/do wexperience a lot of things. I have (well, this also depends on who you talk to) schizophrenia, depression, Borderline PD, among other things wrong with my head. I self harm, bu wont go into that too much, but it is as a resulkt of abuse as a child from someone who definately should have known better.

I was raised in a very strict religious household, but now , well, I have days where I still believe a lot of what I was taught and days where I find it hard to believe. I dont do much about it.

I have three pets, a cat a dog and a canary. I am trying to find a home for my dog be3cause I am not being a good mum for her right now, she needs more than I can give her with the pain and things I have to deal with. I.e, I can barely walk herr out the gate before I am either in pain or out of breath (I also have chronic Asthma where I have to be hospitalised several times a year).

The other thing that causes me pain is a joint problem. It has not been diagnosed because the doctor doesnt know what causes it, or why it happens, but I get a build up of fluid inside the joints anywhere on my body, in my spine, knees, shoulders, ankles, fingers, everywhere. I have to have the fluid drained when it gets too bad, and it absolutely kills.

Much of my pantry is filled with medications for varuious things, mostly pain meds and antipsychotics (which I rarely take mind you) and asthma stuff.

But I love spending time with kids and have worked in childcare all my working life. The kids love my half inch thick glasses, and accept me for who I am and plus, I can sometimes let Renee out (she is a young side of my DID) but I only do so when it is safe.

Anyway, Im sorry this is not a fun post for everyone tobe reading but I thought i would introduce myself to you anyway.
Maddi

Oh and I live in Australia

hmmm..hi...im 25 y/o from canada...i have been disabled since 17....and i don't know anything about how to live like this...sure there are services available..if i could only ask..my mother has been living my disabled life for me..i wouldn't know what to do w/o her,,but i kno she is not going to be here to physically help forever...i never really started living this life myself..i bought a book on disability..and everytime i pick it up i start crying..i sympathize with the words..i get what he s saying..i want to return it...so, i asked why i wanted to?...the answer is because i haven't accepted myself, yet..after all of these years...this has been the only support i have ever asked for..myself...besides the book..please be nice ..:)..i know im a 25 y/o mommy s girl who has to grow up..and im starting to open up and ask for help..that s a start...if anyone would like to help, offer websites or books to read idk what to do....even if it is the most element thing,,i probably don t kno.....bye..and sorry for whining :)(:

Penny721: You do not need to apologize. I do not read your message and consider your words as "whining". It is OK to express how you feel here. Who in your life calls you a "Mommy's Girl" and says you need to "grow up"? That's very harsh and demeaning. If you would like to talk more, I am here as well as the rest of the group. You can private message me anytime too. Love from Chloe XOXO

You are all so candid and open about pain. You make me proud of being in the human race for the courage you all show me.
Love,
Billy xxxxxooooooo

My name is Lisa Marie and I am 31. It could take a long time to explain all of the physical and mental health conditions that have led me to join a group for able-disabled people. In short, I have epilepsy, and have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. I also have been struggling with IBD (ulcerative colitis) since I was about seven. I don't work - my last job was in 2003 and I had to leave it because my body couldn't handle it. Not sure what else to say... I am married, a mom, have a great family... and live in eastern Canada.

Great to see more folks posting intros! Keep em coming everyone!!!