And I Do Not Think Anyone Should Have To.

⚠️ Content Warning: Strong language, unapologetic honesty, disabled rage, and chronic illness frustrations. ⚠️

Proceed with empathy or scroll on.

Welcome back to the Cryptid’s Den.
Come in.
You can set things down here.

This is The Crippled Cryptid.
A quiet corner of the internet where disabled lives are allowed to be complicated, unpretty, and deeply loved.

I’m Sky.
Professional cryptid. Accidental cyborg.
Someone who lives in a body with opinions and a service dog named Luna who enforces rest with alarming efficiency.

Luna is part guardian, part shadow, part “hey, you don’t get to ignore that.” Followed up by a stern and sometimes loud, “Mumther, who the fuck told you that you could ignore me?” She notices the things I’m trained to minimize, interrupts before collapse, and validates my reality when the world won’t.

M&M is my constant. My best friend. My anchor when my body forgets how to be steady. Unfortunately, that’s pretty often.

This space exists for the days when survival is the whole task.
For love that shows up even when everything hurts.
For telling the truth without turning it into a performance.

If you’ve been here before, I’m glad you came back.
If this is your first time, you’re welcome here.

The Lunatic Café is open.
On today’s menu: Quotes I Do Not Fuck With as a Disabled Person.

There are few things more dehumanizing than living in a body that doesn’t cooperate and still being expected to explain, justify, or apologize for your existence.

Disabled people, especially those of us who are young, ambulatory, or “don’t look sick,” hear some truly feral things. From friends. From family. From coworkers. From doctors. From strangers. From the lady blocking the vitamin aisle at Whole Foods who absolutely did not ask but somehow still answered.

So, here it is. A lovingly curated collection of quotes I do not fuck with, updated for 2026 Sky and including Luna, my enforcement of boundaries.

“Just wait until you’re my age.”

Said by someone with two bad knees and a multivitamin addiction, to a 30-year-old with chronic fatigue, joint dislocations, and a diagnosis list that could fill a CVS receipt. Sweetie, I’m not racing you- I’m lapping you in the pain Olympics but, you don’t see me bragging, now do you?

Pain is not a competition, but if it were, I’d be asking for better accommodations, and maybe a nap. Aging is not a prerequisite for suffering, and youth is not a protective spell.

“It can’t be that bad.”

Susan. I walk with a cane. On purpose. In public. Trust me- it’s that bad. But, by all means, gaslight me harder while I dissociate from the pain. Go on- try me, what’s next? “It’s just an accessory?”

Dude.

Walking with a cane is intentional. Luna knows when my joints and muscles have had enough and will make sure I don’t overdo it. Minimizing someone’s pain doesn’t make it disappear; it makes you unsafe to talk to.

“You came to work, didn’t you?”

Probably one of my favorites before I stopped working because my disabilities, you know… disabled me.

Yes, I showed up- because capitalism doesn’t take sick days and my mortgage company doesn’t accept excuses instead of money. If you know of a sugar daddy who loves disabled cryptid bloggers with a love for spooky vibes and chronic pain? I’m available. Otherwise, STFU and let me drink my iced coffee and dissociate in peace.

“You’re always sick.”

Correct.

It’s called a chronic illness, Brenda. Look it up. It means it doesn’t go away, no matter how much green juice I drink or how many yoga influencers yell at me on Instagram. I didn’t choose this. Do you think I enjoy explaining my symptoms to doctors who don’t even remember what MCAS and EDS stands for?

Chronic illness is not optional. Luna’s alerts remind me to check my body, manage pain, and survive without judgment.

“It’s literally just anxiety.”

Oh really? Then why do my joints pop out of place like a broken Barbie on a bad day? Why are my blood pressure and heart rate playing whack-a-mole every time I stand up? My body cannot tell the difference between waking up in the morning and being hunted for sport, Karen- I have anxiety, yes. I also have medical records that are thicker than the DSM-5. Please sit down and let me educate you- with PowerPoint, if necessary.

Anxiety is real, but it does not explain dislocations, blood pressure spikes, or heart rate chaos. Luna supports me, grounding me in the reality of my body and health.

“Have you tried yoga?”

Yes. And it made my joints do the Macarena. Next question.

“Have you tried keto?”

Bite me. No seriously, food is one of the only things that consistently makes me feel joy, and I’m not about to give up mashed potatoes to chase some internet bro’s idea of “health.”

Especially not when I’m already in the threshold of malnutrition and sitting in anemia’s lap. High cholesterol isn’t going to fix anything.

“Have you tried essential oils?”

I have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Do you want to be responsible for a full-blown anaphylactic reaction because your MLM starter kit smells like death and regret? Keep your diffusers away from me unless you want to see my EpiPen in action.

“You’re too young to be this sick.”

My absolute favorite. I’ve been hearing it since I was a literal child. Guess what? Illness doesn’t wait for a 65th birthday card to show up. I’ve been “too young” my entire life- and I’m still sick. That is the whole point.

Disability does not ask permission. Luna enforces boundaries, ensures I survive, and reminds the world that youth does not invalidate experience.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this and thinking, That sounds harsh, good.

Living in an able-bodied world while disabled is harsh. What you are hearing is not cruelty. It’s exhaustion finally being allowed to speak.

Disabled people owe you nothing. Not our stories. Not our politeness. Not our silence.

If you want to be helpful, try this instead:

“How can I support you?”

It costs nothing. It assumes nothing. And it does not involve coconut oil or positive vibes. Luna approves this boundary.

Because respectfully?
I still do not fuck with that.

If today was heavy, you didn’t carry it alone.
If today was quiet, I hope it stayed gentle.
If you’re here, you belong here.
Love you. Now say it back.

-Sky
© The Crippled Cryptid
Disability, honesty, and a little chaos.

🔗 https://linktr.ee/skylanarissa

There’s never pressure to donate. Staying counts.
If you’d like to support the long road toward stability and mobility:
💜 https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-skys-journey-to-health-and-mobility