I Will Let You Think I Need Help Getting Undressed

If That’s What Turns You On

There is a fairly short list of tasks on the “activities of daily living” that I have not been able to adapt to doing with my disability. Over the course of 20 years since I had a severe stroke, I have pretty much figured it all out; showering, driving, cooking, dressing and undressing. There are some major limitations, along with minor ones such as peeling a potato or changing a pillowcase with only one hand which are beyond my abilities.

Most people want to assist me any way they can when they see me struggle with something like zippering up my jacket, and I am usually happy to have the help.

It gets interesting sometimes when a man assumes I will need help getting undressed. Clearly, I have been doing this by myself for 20 years with a disability. But, I know men just want to be helpful so I will play along. I also know that for some men, undressing a woman is a major turn on. Maybe better if she’s kind of disabled because then she really needs the help making them feel more heroic.

Even the guy I have been dating for over a year knows exactly what my abilities are, yet still offers to do things like “help me get out of that sweater”. He is just the sweetest, ya know? I have come across more than one such kind soul in my travels.