Page 23 - 2019 Fall CMTA Report

? WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?Ask David.

Dear David, to a place of peace. Your career is Accepting our limitations helps us
I recently got my first pair of very important: It gives your life to go beyond them. If accepted
orthotics and although my braces meaning and nothing should and integrated in our personality,
help me walk better, I can’t seem stand in its way. We all have anxi- our differences can make us
to get over my self-consciousness at eties around our appearance, but stronger, more powerful and more
work. I often give presentations this kind of worry can stand in the successful in the long run. True
and I feel everyone is focusing on way of showing off the best part of beauty is about having the confi-
my legs, which makes me anxious. who we are, which has little to do dence to be exactly who you are.
I feel my anxiety is affecting the with our physical appearance. You Coming out with CMT is a
quality of my presentations. I often have obviously achieved success in lifelong process. Take small steps
wear pant suits but I would love to your field already, so focus on that even if it’s uncomfortable. It gets
wear dresses once in a while. I am instead of what you imagine peo- easier with time, but you need to Write to David at
a 35-year-old executive and despite ple are thinking. Most of the time take little risks whenever possible. info@cmtausa.org.
getting a lot of positive feedback, we are imagining stuff that’s sim- Trust that with practice it is possi-
I’m concerned my career will be ply not true. If people at your ble to be free of self-consciousness. David Tannenbaum has
an LCSW degree and has
hurt by my disability. How do I company are uncomfortable with Every time you feel it a little, just been a psychotherapist in
get over my insecurity? New York City for the
your braces, that is their disability. note it to yourself and push past 30 years, specializing
David replies: It is not their job to love and through it even if it causes dis- in helping others with the
task of growing emotion-
Thanks for bringing up a topic accept you; it is your work to love comfort. That’s how you build any ally and spiritually
that affects many of us with CMT. yourself braces and all. We need to new muscle. In truth, it is our through physical chal-
Although anxiety is uncomfort- remember that self-love and self- fears around CMT that hold us lenges. “My CMT has
been my greatest challenge
able, it forces us to deal with the acceptance is important work for back, not our innate intellect or and my best teacher in
fears associated with being self- most people, whether or not they talent. Push yourself out there and life,” says David.
conscious. This is not about have a physical disability. Our buy a great dress that says: “Look
getting over it, rather it is about CMT simply pushes this work to at me. I’m a fabulous woman with
working through your inability to the surface faster and nudges us to much to offer. Pay attention peo-
accept yourself fully and coming deal with this issue more quickly. ple because I’m going places!” h

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