MWS,
I wear my sunglasses all sorts of places and in the beginning I was self conscious about it. But after a while I just enjoyed the comfort they gave me and it seemed once I relaxed about it, so did everyone else. (Which clearly makes me think it was all in my head! )

I'm still embarrassed about needing to use my cane to walk around. I hate using it and I hate the fact it makes my life easier and safer, especially in public. (I rarely use it at home, partly because if I fall down at home, no one makes that big a deal of it... but fall down at a grocery store or somewhere like that, holy cow, instant center of attention... everyone freaks out!!)

I'm only 42 and before my injury I was super active and independent and now I walk around like an old lady?! Gah! But if I use my cane, I'm less tired, less likely to fall down and its less likely strangers and children will run into me and knock me down.

But I still find it humiliating.

But do what you have to do to get through this... you have to look after yourself... that's what's important right now.

Starr