erasmause

Sorry if this is insensitive, but I noticed you didn't refer to yourself as "capital D Deaf." Was that intentional? Incidental? Do many deaf people make the distinction in writing? Or at all? Is there a correlation with its usage and the formality of the writing?

Edit: Also, I just watched the videos and was quite impressed with your clarity of speech. Would you say that's typical of someone who's had a cochlear implant as early/long as yourself? Btw, my mom's an audiologist, so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with this subject area, but my (possibly outdated) impression of cochlear implants was that the sound reproduction was limited. Is that still the case, and how much does it vary from patient to patient?

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a doctor, just someone who's had similar concerns over the years.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is definitely a thing, and to my understanding quite common.

If you're anything like me, there's probably a gnawing fear/anxiety in your mind when it comes to seeking help. Something that sounds like "what if my pain isn't 'legit'? Are they going to berate me? Accuse me of wasting their time? Just tell me to suck it up?" For me, some of this anxiety came from trying to self-diagnose, and then second guessing my experiences. I think it's helpful, especially when first meeting your care provider, to focus on your symptoms and not worry about whether your experience is a "real" affliction with a clinical sounding name. Ultimately, they're there to help you when your mind is causing you pain, not to play pin-the-tail-on-the-diagnosis.

If you need help, or even suspect you might need help, please do what you can to find it. If you have a Primary Care Provider, they might be a good place to start your inquiry, and can probably point you in the right direction.

Any idea what's up with Weld county's outsized infection rate and death toll?