Worth Living Ambassador Tylia Flores
Tylia Flores is a 23-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world. In doing so, she hopes to help others with disabilities realize that they too have the potential to make their dreams come true.
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
Dating for me has always been a challenging part of my life considering the fact that I am in a
wheelchair and have cerebral palsy. Finding my perfect prince charming hasn’t been the easiest
task.
I sit here and think about it and I could blame many things. Society, the way people look at us
as people with disabilities especially able-bodied people who don’t want to deal what the
responsibilities of being a caregiver to someone that they choose to love.
Or are they just don’t have very much awareness on what it is like to have a disability or they
don’t have hearts to look past our disabilities. For me the chair has always been the biggest
obstacle.
When it came to putting myself out there as a young woman with cerebral palsy in the dating
Scene, it always made it much harder because once the young man noticed my cerebral palsy
and my limitations in regards to my condition because of my being in a wheelchair and that is not all
that comes with my cerebral palsy.
I have spastic attacks and I need 24 -hours of care. I have to go to several doctors’ appointments.
So of course it’s hard for me to find someone who understands that.
But on top of that, I have adjustment disorder which is an abnormal and excessive reaction to an
identifiable life stressor. The reaction is more severe than would normally be expected and can
result in significant impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning. Adjustment
disorder is sometimes referred to as Situational Depression.
So it makes hard for me to date because I overthink things while I am in a relationship because I
have a deep desire to find my “real life” Bud Davis who would sweep me off my wheels and
dance with him to Mickey Gilley’s Stand By Me.
But overall having both a disability and disorder have made my journey of finding my picture
perfect cowboy a little bit more difficult. After getting diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder and
all, I thought I would be single for the rest of my life and no young man my age would be
interested in dating someone with my special needs
But a few months ago I stopped looking for love in all the wrong places because I met my
boyfriend, Bobby , just by a fluke while online and we have dating ever since. The
key to dating with Adjustment Disorder and Cerebral Palsy is being yourself and expecting who
you are because, to be honest, you got to love yourself before you love others