Differently Abled (fly your freak flag high)

[SuperFemme]

***Bump***

I was wondering if anyone here has seizures? If so, do you find that cartoons, video games and/or flashing/blinking things on the computer exacerbate them?

I had a seizure the other day from a youtube someone sent me, and am curious to know if anyone else has this issue.

[Bit]

I don't have seizures, but strobe lights bother the heck out of me and I have to say that sometimes stuff on the computer screen makes me back up and turn my head away pretty quickly--especially youtubes.

I had to learn to ignore the movements of the smilies next to the posting window; I see them out of the corner of my eye as one picture with many disparate moving parts--and not synchronized, yanno? So it's sometimes hard to deal with.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{everyone}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[SuperFemme]

I could just hug you right now Bit. I was looking in my brain for the word "strobe" last night but it would NOT manifest in an actual thought.

The smiles I can ignore, but avatars that "strobe" make it difficult for me to read for fear of a seizure. THANK YOU for you input.

[Bit]

{{{{{{{{{{{Adele}}}}}}}}}}} I lose words sometimes too... MAN do I hate that.... but they always come back eventually. It might be days later, but hey... eventually. *wry smile*

[WILDCAT]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

***Bump***

I was wondering if anyone here has seizures? If so, do you find that cartoons, video games and/or flashing/blinking things on the computer exacerbate them?

I had a seizure the other day from a youtube someone sent me, and am curious to know if anyone else has this issue.

I certainly had two very different types of "episodes"... way back after the initial trauma. Acquired, thus from brain swelling. I won't describe much here, but one felt kind of nice and the other was REALLY horrible. It was quite subtle for anyone else to pick up on. (Well except when I would suddenly lose my gait walking down a crowded, busy street!)

I was "incapacitated" though. It would become too hard to just lift a finger, or answer anyone speaking to me. My brain just couldn't process that, not for delivery anyway. And the grief I felt during these. (Nearly on a spiritual level!)

There was evidence of paroxysmal discharge through some testing at a Mahattan clinic. (Could have started out one way and became "pseudoseizures" after time?) I had all the panic and anxiety, hyperventilation, memory loss, thinking my heart stopped in the middle of the night, etc... My left/right brain wiring was so screwed up. I know the medical folks focused more though on the "psychological trauma", my back/spine, physical therapy concerns - while I fought to remain independent (and wandered carelessly, aimlessly, staggering about the city like a drunken sailor at times)! It's funny now to think of the folks expressions coming at me when this would happen!

I went for ALL of the non-traditional therapy and treatment I could get myself into, especially as treatment like accupuncture became recognized as a legit medical treatment and accepted THEN by insurance companies! (Go N.Y.! One of the first areas to do so!!) I certainly was in the right town "that way" to get hurt! Regression therapy. Cranio-sacral, Chinese Herbs, myofascial release, on and on!! I took advantage!! (Which I attribute to the rate at which I healed.)

Anyway, NOTHING for years, (after a year and a half or so of these symptoms continuously, but becoming more and more, less prevalent). Then about three years ago, I felt one of the episodes coming on. I could NOT believe it. I was truly stunned. I recognized it though, told the person I was with that I was just going to sit and that I wouldn't move, or talk for a few minutes. Actually, she asked what she could do, and I asked her to just put her arms around me and hold me, very still. She was standing and I rested my head against the front of her, the most beautiful and healing place in the world, I believe! I was under a TON of stress right then (emotionally and psychologically), and was physically way over-exerting myself. I don't know what is structurally related either. I'm a MESS that way! Plus, I have a really BAD case of TMJ, and have had to be terrified for neuralgia attacks. Quite unpleasant.

But, I didn't know I was under stress. It seemed like just a "normal" time for me - at the time.

Anyway, when you wrote this Super... I thought STROBE affect. I do not care for that AT ALL, but didn't before my accident either. Like dancing out at queer clubs as a kid! I dislike it MUCH MORE NOW. (I'm a triple earth Virgo too though, and things need to make sense!?) So, I thought maybe the video you watched had a strobe affect, or I wondered if it was of a traumatic nature in content.

Someone posted a horrific video on another site of someone very BADLY injured, it was so graphic and was traumatic to watch. I wish I hadn't opened the link. (Head injury, not the "butt" one!! But, that one is now tatted on my psyche too!!)

However, once you mentioned the emoticons, I figured flashing or strobe of some kind. And I'm glad that you did. I'm sorry if I've used any emoticon with too much movement for you Adele. I really truly just simply overlooked that. I'll try and behave now! SMOOCH!

I know with birthday wishes, I cannot use the one flashing greeting all of the time. It doesn't feel right sometimes. But, that is not all of the time - and I never thought about it until now.

Anyway, this is a difficult subject for me to speak about. I wanted to answer you much sooner, but wasn't able to, until I gathered my thoughts about some of it. Plus, I am so private. I feel this is such a very good and important thread topic though.

And the "raise your freak flag" does not feel harsh to me - at all. I think that it is a bit funny actually. Gotta have some humor!! I'm just sensitive at folks being judgmental - for ANYONE. But, I admit that I've always loved being just a little bit strange! (You know there is "good strange" and then there is... the other, kinds... like "funny uncle" or something like that - and I don't mean a comedic relative.)

OK, I might be a "tad" crazy... so what?

Later!

Hugs ALL
WILD

*I apologize for my long, rambling "incoherent" (I've been told) writing style! Hope you get something out of it!!? At least it's a relief now to know some folks "skip" over my posts! Really.

**Shorter posts to follow though, promise!

[SuperFemme]

Wildcat, I am sorry somebody said such an ugly thing about your posts. They are not hard to read to me as I can appreciate the thought process of a person with a brain injury.

I love your recounting of asking the person you were with when you felt an episode coming on to put their arms around you. It has been my experience that when people around me are freaking out it is harder for me to regain my senses. I was in Vegas at a bash and there were strobe lights, my femme friend took me to the restroom and hugged me while singing opera. So awesome and peaceful that was.

I know people love smilies, and they don't bother me so much as the strobe lighty avatars.

I NEVER skip over your posts.

Thank you for sharing here, it is crucial that we all know we are not alone in the things we go through. You are a miracle. Having the injuries you've had I am amazed by you daily.

[suebee]

Originally Posted by WILDCAT

*I apologize for my long, rambling "incoherent" (I've been told) writing style! Hope you get something out of it!!? At least it's a relief now to know some folks "skip" over my posts! Really.

**Shorter posts to follow though, promise!

Well, I was going to post here about myself, but this is a chance to give an apology I've wanted to give for a week or more now.

Wildcat, it was me who said that your posts were long and rambling. (I don't think I said "incoherant" - but I may be wrong). I'll post later about myself, but for a number of reasons I tend to post literally at times, with no intention of offending. I won't bother disecting what happened in the exchange that led me to saying this to you, but it really wasn't meant to be offensive. Yeah, I know - maybe it's hard to believe.

In any case, I apologize if I offended you. And just to clarify - posts made after that weren't about you.

So, when I've digested THAT humble pie, I'll come back and post again. (if I remember to, that is!)

Sue

[Bit]

Originally Posted by WILDCAT

*I apologize for my long, rambling "incoherent" (I've been told) writing style!

**Shorter posts to follow though, promise!

No need for shorter posts--I like it when people have a lot to say--but I am SO grateful that you chose to put this one in a darker font! Darlin, old eyes have a lot of trouble with some of the very light fonts, yanno? Especially silver! *wry smile*

[Cowboi]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

***Bump***

I was wondering if anyone here has seizures? If so, do you find that cartoons, video games and/or flashing/blinking things on the computer exacerbate them?

I had a seizure the other day from a youtube someone sent me, and am curious to know if anyone else has this issue.

Red blinking lights are know to trigger seizures.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Cowboi

Red blinking lights are know to trigger seizures.

YES! When I go to the neurologist they shine strobe lights in my eyes to induce a seizure when I get an EEG (Electro Encephelogram). When Pokemon first came on the air it was giving kids all over Japan seizures...I wonder why the strobes cause this?

[Selenay]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

YES! When I go to the neurologist they shine strobe lights in my eyes to induce a seizure when I get an EEG (Electro Encephelogram). When Pokemon first came on the air it was giving kids all over Japan seizures...I wonder why the strobes cause this?

The condition appears to involve the primary visual cortex, which processes visual information. The cortexes of photosensitive are easily excited; flashing patterns overwhelm them, setting off a barrage of neuron firing that overwhelm the cortex.

>source<

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Selenay

The condition appears to involve the primary visual cortex, which processes visual information. The cortexes of photosensitive are easily excited; flashing patterns overwhelm them, setting off a barrage of neuron firing that overwhelm the cortex.

>source<

That was super informative, nobody's ever told me that. Thanks Selenay!

[Selenay]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

That was super informative, nobody's ever told me that. Thanks Selenay!

Also, I don't know if you've read this but perhaps >this< will help, as well.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Selenay

Also, I don't know if you've read this but perhaps >this< will help, as well.

That was even more succinct Sel....I hope everyone clicks.