Kaye's Story - An Acquired Disability

Acquired disabilities are conditions that happen after birth because of an injury, illness, or other health event. They can affect how a person moves, thinks, senses, or feels. Examples include things like brain injuries, stroke, or chronic illness.

Unlike disabilities someone is born with, acquired disabilities often require a period of adjustment. People may need to learn new ways to do everyday tasks and cope with changes in their abilities. Support is important—not just for physical health, but also for emotional well-being as individuals adapt to these changes.

Tell me about yourself. What would you like people to know about you?

I am a 23 year old female from the Philippines. I joined the military as a medic at the age of 17 years old, right after high school. I was deployed overseas between 2021 and 2022. I left the military earlier this year, and I am currently in nursing school. I like watching movies, hiking, and trying new foods. I work at the Emergency Department as an ED Tech and I am interested in working at the Emergency Department as a nurse once I graduate.

What is your disability? How does this impact your life?

I became disabled through my time in the military. My disabilities are chronic back pain, insomnia, flat feet, depression, and anxiety. It impacts my life by impairing my sleep, and I have developed negative coping habits for depression, anxiety, and irritability. I experience barriers to my hobbies, like hiking. I have to deal with constant pain management.

What have you learned from your experiences?

I learned that mental health is not as easy as turning on and off a switch. I used to have a personal bias against mental health, until I started experiencing it myself. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as I thought to manage depression and anxiety. I also learned how debilitating chronic back pain is, and how sleep is so important for everyday functions.

What are some benefits you have encountered from having your disability?

Some benefits I have encountered from having my disability are financial assistance, access to Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities, and being more open to taking medications.

If someone met you for the first time, what would you like them to know about you?

I would like them to know that I would love to do all the things that other people in my age group do, like going out and having fun. However, due to my disabilities and poor mental health and other obligations like school and work, I have a very low social battery. I would like them to know that my energy levels are so low, and that I would hang out with them or go out more if I were in a better position mentally and physically, while also having less responsibilities.

Any resources you would like to share?

Resources like therapy have helped with my mental health, as well as taking medications and regularly visiting a PCP. Growing up, I did not take my health seriously and disregarded mental health resources due to my upbringing and my own personal bias. I now know how debilitating poor mental health is and ways to overcome it.