The Dignity of Risk

We should all familiarize ourselves with the term, “The Dignity of Risk”. It encapsulates the struggle between safety and growth, when it comes to people dealing with serious challenges

In Essence:

Dignity of risk refers to the legal right of every person, including those with a disability, to make choices and take risks in order to learn, grow and have better quality of life.

I thought it was just relevant to those on the forum

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Everyone always wants to put you in a box

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I hate being “labeled”

I think the grey area is where you don’t think you have symptoms. We’ve all seen that person who believes their delusions etc. Like I’m not opposed to forced medication if it’s done appropriately. I guess that is the issue? Yeah it’s nice to have choice if your in your right mind…what happens when your clearly not?

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The label thing is ridiculous and I hate it too.

We’re not just a bag of symptoms. We’re just regular people with some common traits, and not defined by our condition (s)

I suppose a disease of the mind is treated way more differently to a broken leg

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Good luck getting me to stay in it.

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Don’t worry @shutterbug - we all saw Jurassic Park! :wink:

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@rogueone I actually originally wrote in the post, that there is an exception for people who can’t make clear decisions at the time. I agree with you, there are exceptions

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If you succeed there is great dignity in risk. If you fail, risk is very undignified.

This reminded me to this poem:
Risk
Poet: William Arthur Ward

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing,
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave
who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

“I think this poem is to, only normal people”.
Can this be included to disabled? @Cragger
I am not sure, just wanted to know.

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My med provider talks to me about Casinos. She says she wants to take risks in other ways.

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I like that term, @cragger.

Just because we all have a very serious illness that limits us in certain aspects, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to live our lives in the way we see fit.

I do think that dignity is often limited by outside stigma or our own self-perceived notions of what we can and can’t do.

…We shouldn’t let others decide how we should live our lives.*

*Unless one is incapacitated and can’t make their own decisions due to whatever factors.

We’re told right off the bat that it’s gonna be an uphill battle to regain normalcy and do the things we used to do-- but that shouldn’t scare us away from possibilities.

Disabled, and differently-abled people all reserve the right to follow their dreams.

We shouldn’t be boxed-in, or put to the side due to the preconceived notions of others, limited social services, or lack of aid.

I firmly believe that stigma-- whether from the outside, or personal-- holds many of us back.

I will also posit that if there were more programs for those of us with this particular illness, we would have the solid starting point needed that would allow us to fulfill goals and chase dreams.

With that being said, sometimes we just have to plow through the bullshiit and find our own way.

But, we all reserve the right to live our lives with dignity and with choice.

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very interesting.

yes, like if someone with sz wants a baby, i believe that they should not be looked down upon because even if there is a risk, that risk can be minimised with learning and growth.

for some a baby would make a world of better quality of life.

sometimes i wish i could have a baby.

but for me personally, i just know, overall it is not the right choice :confused:

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@An_the-c-ology I think it applies to everyone, whether you struggle with an illness or not. But they need to be wise risks. Every friendship, and everything worthwhile in my life, involves some risk

I love that poem by the way

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Thanks ,
Thats true wise risk.
I wonder its life complicated, or I made it complicated?
I see people going about there life, and here I am lost in a maze.
How are you holding up.
I did see your pics, you guys look good.

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I’m holding up pretty good, thanks @An_the-c-ology . How are you making out?

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I am not doing so great, I think it’s depression. I don’t even know what’s happening. With respect to the terms. Feel so uneasy. I lost my drive again. It just come up and the drive stays for couple of days. I think it’s mania I miss out on.
I am just scared to take risk, especially to become independent, also the pdoc informed not to stay alone :pensive: so hanging around with parents.
Ok I got to know what I am suppose to do, just relax. And try to think nothing for couple of hours.
This will do the trick.

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As a person with physical disability, I’ve been told numerous times that I should have been euthanized because I have “faulty genes”. Also not to mention the people who tell me that I shouldn’t be wasting taxes because I’m disabled.

If you’re not “normal”, neurotypical people always want to put you in a box. Ableism is real.

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Sorry to hear you’re not having such a great time @An_the-c-ology . I know for myself, I have good days and bad. Sometimes I’ll have a few good days in a row, then a crappy one. My sleep is a big issue too. Sometimes I sleep too much, and sometimes I don’t sleep at all. It makes it a little rough

Sometimes distracting yourself from things for a little while, like watching a movie, can do you a lot of good. If the wheels are spinning but going nowhere, take a break

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That is terrible to hear @anon10648258 . Where do you live again? I think you said Korea at some other time. Sorry if I’m getting it wrong.

Here in Canada, saying something like that would probably land you in jail, or at the very least publicly destroyed

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