My name is Nara, I'm 27 years old, and I currently live in João Pessoa, in the State of Paraiba, Northeast of Brazil.
It's been ten years since I was diagnosed. I was 16-17 years old and a high school student. I started using a wheelchair when I was 23 years old. For me, the transition was a mix of anxiety and a sense of freedom. Like many people, I thought that the wheelchair was a prison until I found out that it brought me independence and allowed me to go to many places on my own. I need to have moments when I feel alone and independent. My moments of anxiety always happened when I met other people. The way they looked at me, the hidden pity, the questions, all of that made me uncomfortable and anxious about their reactions. It took me a while to learn how to deal with situations like that and to understand which things and behaviors I could change or be beyond my reach to change.
I am a vegetarian, and also do exercises for muscle strengthening and stretching, along with coordination training five times a week, and I think that I gained more energy since I started this routine.
I love samba, Brazilian soccer, to cook, listen to music and travel. I also enjoy my scientific studies and research. I have a master's degree in Psychology and right now, I am halfway through a Ph.D. in the same field. I am focused on youth conflicts with law and also about the participation of young women in drug trafficking.
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2021 (12)