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   David P (pewnack@aus.social)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Jun-2026 11:39:03 JST David P

   in reply to

   • (((Cindy Weinstein)))

   @CindyWeinstein

   I really have a problem with the language of "battle with the [insert disease]" because as you say it implies that if they'd only tried harder they'd survived.

   There is a serious cultural problem with how we treat people and expect people to behave with chronic conditions.

   For example, I have a chronic illness for which there is no cure or treatment. I have repeatedly received advice to the effect "have you tried [insert bullshit alternative medicine scam]"?".

   I usually say I haven't, either because it's bullshit or repeatedly say "there is no treatment or cure", or I've had this for more than a decade and if there were a real cure it would have taken it already.

   Their response is usually that I haven't tried hard enough, and I don't want to get well. Essentially it's my fault I'm sick.

   In our society we just don't accept there are illnesses that can't be fixed.

   • Embed this notice
     (((Cindy Weinstein))) (cindyweinstein@zirk.us)'s status on Tuesday, 16-Jun-2026 11:39:04 JST (((Cindy Weinstein)))

     June is Alzheimer's & Brain Health Awareness Month. I've been thinking a lot about the words used when talking about #dementia. For ex., I often read about a person "losing a battle to #Alzheimer's." I linger on "battle": How can a person be in a battle they can't win? Losing a battle presupposes that one might prevail. Or that if only one tried harder, one might win. But that's not possible, devastatingly -- at least not right now. My dad died of early-onset #Alzheimer's.

     What do you think?

     Steve's Place repeated this.