I was in an automobile accident when I was 22 years old. During the accident I sustained a head injury, which subsequently lead to severe inner ear damage. There are many obstacles to overcome.
People tend to stare, and can be rude.
Sometimes I experience those reactions when I am walking with my cane. It can make a person feel very old and vulnerable. My cane makes it apparent that I have a disability, but many times I appear quite normal. Some of the hard things that occur with an illness that can't be seen are the same as for those that can. Everything takes a lot of energy, most people can't and don't want to understand the depth of the disability, and you are constantly wondering what to tell people if they ask you about what happened.