Sunflower lanyards/communicating you have a disability
I'm guessing people will have heard of the sunflower lanyard scheme where you can wear a lanyard with sunflowers on it in some airports etc to communicate that you have a hidden disability and might need some more help. Some supermarkets and other places recognise them too and they are being recognised unofficially in general.
I'm not sure how well recognised they are in my area but I ordered one and combined it with an idea I had a while ago about a card letting charity/energy people who stop me on the street know that I can't interact with them. I am very easily pressured into signing up for things because I'm so anxious or I worry that I appear rude by walking away if I can't say "sorry I'm busy" or whatever. So I'm thinking of trying this card attached to my lanyard for very exceptional circumstances. Do you think it's a bad idea/cringey/what? I'm not sure if I will even be confident enough to use it but I think it's better than walking away if I'm too anxious to speak or whatever. The part saying I have MH problems is maybe unnecessary.
Maybe something similar would be useful for you.
(Imgbb is down so I've had to attach a lower quality image).
Also, apologies for the cat hair in the photo!
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I think it's a good idea adding your own message on there. Even if you don't use it but have it on you when you're out, it might help you feel more able to handle the situation if it arises.
I think it's a good idea if it helps and works then it could be invaluable might have to get one for when my selective mutism plays up and I stop talking altogether mind u I don't half get embarrassed about admitting it so sometimes I just let people think I'm rude
I agree with the others. I am curious where you got it from because I could do with one when visiting the supermarket especially.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
I got the lanyard at the airport after having multiple public meltdowns, and becoming nonverbal, and it really helped.
I wear it all the time now, in an effort to spread the word about it, and I've been meaning to make a zine/card thingie to explain I'm autistic/can be nonverbal/not to touch me/how to help, though I haven't gotten around to it yet.
So yeah, I think it's a great idea as I'm basically doing the same thing. If you're not sure whether to say "MH problems", you could just say "anxiety" and it would still make sense X
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Do you think there's a more generic thing I could put on the badge since this is really for specific situations? I know the lanyard itself is supposed to show that you have a hidden disability but not everyone knows that.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I guess my only thought would be something similar to the do not distract badges I have on my dog's vest when she's working. One of the other things we have is a little like, stop sign thing on our leash that says not to interact. You could maybe try something similar?
How about something like "I get very anxious in social situations. Please dont interact with me. If I want something I will ask."
That's assuming that you are ok going up to people and asking for help instead of being bothered by someone trying to sell you something.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Thank you both. I was in Glasgow today and wore the lanyard but just had a little bit showing. I know it's supposed to be to let people know you might need some help but I was mostly wearing it to try and stop people unnecessarily stressing me out. No one said/did anything anyway, and I didn't come across any charity people so didn't have to use the badge part. I felt both comfortable and uncomfortable wearing it. In the train station I felt like it would make it easier for me to ask for help if I needed it, but wearing it around my own town I'm not so sure about.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
That's good Lindsay. I hope that you have some success in your home town.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
This popped up on an Facebook group that I am a member of. I don't know how appropriate it would be to your situation but I thought you might be interested.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
But you also don't want people to draw attention to it as for example some people in the special education needs colleges have bright coloured lanyards as adults so they are clearly labelled as special needs. it even has "Joe has special needs, if he wonders off please call Jane Smith on x y z"
You want the lanyard to look like every joe blogs has them for entry in workplaces, colleges, schools etc.
Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.
I know what it's like to want to die. How it hurts to smile. How you try to fit in but you can't. How you hurt yourself on the outside to try to kill the thing on the inside. I tried groups, didn't work out just made my depression a lot worse.
The thing is that with the sunflower lanyard scheme is that it's recognised in all airports in the UK. With an ordinary lanyard it's not immediately obvious and that they may think that you're a business traveller who is acting odd. Unless you have something standard then it's easy to be overlooked as not everyone reads the badge/looks up. At least with it being bright you are more likely to get noticed.
At the end of the day nobody is forced to wear it and it's up to the individual if they want to wear it.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013