Glass Children Info & Masterpost
Only recently being recognized as a huge trauma itself, I’ve seen nothing on Tumblr being posted about glass children. And as a glass child myself, which is a part of the reason I’ve struggled severely with mental illness, especially in my early teen years, it can be very upsetting. However, it’s still incredibly popular to view what we experience as invalid and that we should “appreciate we aren’t like them” (which is incredibly insulting to both parties and I hate hearing it). Idk if this will get any notes, but I wish someone told me what I went through is valid and a real thing and I hope maybe this will show one person the same:
Glass Child: siblings of a person with a disability. The word glass means people tend to see right through them and focus only on the person with the disability. 'Glass' is also used because the children appear strong, but in reality are not. These children have needs that are not being met.
The term was popularized and recognized in Alicia Maples’s “Recognizing Glass Children” TedTalk posted in December, 2010 in which she talks about her experience growing up with a severely Autistic brother.
It is important to acknowledge that the disabled sibling plays no role in the conditions and problems a glass child endures as they did not choose to have a disability. The conditions and problems are a product of bad parental management and being a victim of circumstances. As a child, not understanding this bigger pictures may sometimes cause a glass child to see their sibling as the problem, but it is important to stress the sibling has no part in it.
Examples of challenges glass children experience during childhood:
Severe emotional and or physical neglect from guardians
Severe pressure to be the “perfect” kid
Feeling as if you must help others before yourself
Strong anger of not having a “normal” family, but feeling shame for feeling anger.
Putting in extra effort to appear okay even when they aren’t
Taking on the tasks (both physical and or mental) that are reserved for parents
Feelings of hopelessness
Hyper-vigilance and anxiety
Feeling of being taken for granted
These experiences during childhood follow you into teenage years and adulthood.
Symptoms a glass child can show later in life:
Trauma-related mental illnesses (ex: anxiety, depression, PTSD, personality disorders, eating disorders, etc.)
Self-sabotaging or self-injurious behavior(s)
Low self esteem
Putting other’s needs before one’s own, even at their own expense
Lack of self identity or never developing their own personality
Hyper-vigilance to an inappropriate degree
Extreme sensitivity
Struggles with trust and or vocalizing feelings and needs
Difficulty in adjusting to new, unexpected situations
Avoidance of any form of conflict to the point where it has negative impacts on day to day life
Learn More:
Glass Child Syndrome And Symptoms
Glass children: The overlooked siblings of the people we treat.
What is a glass child?
How We Can All Help Glass Children
Growing Up a Glass Child
Glass Child Syndrome And Symptoms
Glass children: The lived experiences of siblings of people with a disability or chronic illness
Glass Children
At least from my experience, one of the biggest problems that follows me till this day is being extremely sensitive as to when I feel my feelings or presence is being invalidated. This is not completely my imagination however as the term “glass child” as of now has no place in the DSM-5, any dictionaries, and not even a Wikipedia page despite the years and years of studies and proof showing that the existence and damage of being a glass child is very real and a problem. I myself didn’t know about this term until a few months ago. And that was from TikTok of all places. I hope this makes at least one more person aware that we exist, we are valid, and we are not “the lucky one.” Both the disabled sibling and the glass child(s) deserve the recognition for enduring the hardships life threw at them. We both deserve it.
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3/20/19-6/19/19
they're just busy
waiting. waiting. waiting waiting im waiting, ive been waiting, all i do it wait
where is the end. im waiting for it to end. i want it to end, i want to end
will i be let out, will i see more than this. im getting sicker, throwing up. so much vomit. my leg was weeping
i am weeping, the pain is too much, my skin is disintegrating, it smells, it smells it smells, do i smell? my leg smells.
its my fault, its my fault, i was asleep, its my fault i cannot control it, i should control what i cant, so its my fault
he made me go to the ER, he demanded i do, my leg was weeping, i was weeping, the surgeon thought i was dying
i should've been dying, i could've been dying and i'd still be blamed. because it was my fault i was sick
waiting for it to end, i want it to end, where is the end, i want to go, please let me go, it shouldve taken me years ago
why are you smoking, why are you high, why wont you feed me, why cant i sleep yet, why does my leg smell, why cant i have my medication, why cant i leave, why cant i be bathed, im itchy, why wont you believe me when i say im suffering
im writhing and you are watching
i should be thankful
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