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Vanessa Smith

@normalness.bsky.social

2.1K followers 7K following 3.9K posts

We're all normal to ourselves. I write. I hate hustle. I love shiny objects. Can't even influence an ant. Anthropology & sociology graduate. Author of books. Spoonie. And much more. www.normalness.com

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · Feb 11

This was one of my favourite tweets so it needs sharing here too:

I’ve experienced {symptom}
And
I’ve been disabled by {symptom}
Are two very different things.

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 3h

I haven’t actually tried googling it in eons haha. I know it was on pc and I want to say it was windows 3.1 OS. It was in a house and a dog gets loose and at one point you can fall down a laundry chute and it says “lookout beloooowww” 😂

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 6h

Don’t get me wrong, I still mostly hate social-first posts & have never stopped blogging; I’m just curious if their actions match their semi viral social media posts.

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 6h

Every now & again a post will have endless reshares for saying “we need to blog again” or a message to that effect.

My question for those people: do YOU ever click on links & actually read blog posts?

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 7h

That’s the line I’m trying to find. I wanted to ask about alternatives to stress tests if someone can’t walk then learned about chemical stress tests & i definitely don’t want that

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

Ooh ok so I have a game I played as a kid heaps at a friends house and I’ve never known what it was called. I did ask the friend years ago but they’re a politician now and too cool to talk about us as 5 year olds playing video games 😂

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

Public specialists can be so hit and miss. My husband has an ok one for now but others we’ve seen have been truly awful humans.

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

“Right now, the system protects organisations more than it protects disabled people.”

(Regarding updates to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.)

lsj.com.au/articles/aut...

Autism myths and misinformation in a ‘grey zone’ of legal ramifications - Law Society Journal

The spread of misinformation and disinformation about autism highlights the limitations of disability discrimination laws.

lsj.com.au

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

That’s kind of what im thinking, why this test? What’s the alternative? Tell me more about the test etc to help me make the decision

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

I have the records it’s just the crappy hospital system doesn’t.

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

Ah yeah. I’ve done nasa lean myself to get a dysautonomia dx privately so I feel more confident arguing my way out of that one

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 10h

I think I might have read your posts on it actually ! It’s ringing a bell now. I have done nasa for other doctor & got a dx from it but those records won’t be with the cardiologist & there’s no good way to get the records across 🤷‍♀️ it’s a bad system for paperwork

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

If my baseline drops anymore I’m likely to become homeless due to no income so it’s a stressful decision. I do also want heart issues properly ruled out.

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

I’ve done a nasa lean test for another specialist, they dx’d me with dysautonomia from it. But the records for that aren’t with my GP or the cardiologist :( Not sure how to make them share records. Guess I could just bring it on my laptop to the appt.

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

That’s what I’m scared of happening. And I know no doctors understand pem . Was it the tilt or exercise one that crashed you?

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

Oh I forgot Bateman has the guides, I might go over them thanks for the reminder. I’m more worried about a chemical test than a physical one, I’ve over reacted to meds before & it’s awful. I just don’t know if it’s genuinely necessary or if they just order it cos it’s standard

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

Yep I’ve done a nasa lean test for another specialist, they dx’d me with dysautonomia from it. But the records for that aren’t with my GP or the cardiologist :( Not sure how to make them share records. Guess I could just bring it on my laptop.

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 11h

Don't shit on influencers
normalness.com/2025/10/13/d...

Don't shit on influencers - Normal Ness

If you’re shitting on influencers who are losing work over social media bans / platform changes and want them to “get a real job”, then I expect you to detail what you are personally dong to make “rea...

normalness.com

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 13h

How have fellow pwME MECFS handled being asked to do a tilt table and/or exercise street test? I think it’s unsafe for pwME to do them but I’m concerned a cardiologist will request one or both tests. Docs here are rarely educated on ME, don’t understand PEM, permanent decline risks etc…

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 14h

If you've ever wanted to try journaling but also have a bit of an eye roll attitude towards such things...
YES, I HAVE MADE A SNARKY GRATITUDE JOURNAL. A4 sized, you can use it printed or digital (eg I use planners in my Goodnotes app).

payhip.com/b/TinUX

The Ultimate Snarky Gratitude Journal

On January 22nd I had a bright shiny idea because I am good at those. (I have them on days that aren&#039;t January 22nd as well. That&#039;s how good at them I am!) After some delays due to migraine, a burning hot pain flare, leaving my

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 16h

Time lapses I take are mostly of clouds and sky, which means they may have flashing effects in them and be unsuitable for some people.
youtu.be/Q7MDpAeE870

4 April 2025

YouTube video by NormalNess

youtu.be

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 1d

Outlanders 2: Mega Sandbox Day 300 youtu.be/dTKWdN-JSJ8

Outlanders 2: Mega Sandbox Day 300

YouTube video by NormalNess

youtu.be

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 2d

Goat Simulator MMO Microwave Glarbargle Beach
youtu.be/A0y3YjUkcXw

Goat Simulator MMO Microwave Glarbargle Beach

YouTube video by NormalNess

youtu.be

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 3d

The council always seem confused about the road so I said “look me up, I’ve had to report this before, and yes it’s literally the exact same pole”. So hopefully that makes it easier for their team to look up.

Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 3d

Had to call council because someone crashed into the give way sign outside my house and left it there all fallen over.

The ridiculous part? Not the first time I’ve had to make this exact phone call 🤦‍♀️

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Vanessa Smith @normalness.bsky.social · 3d

Journal your way to royalty!!
payhip.com/b/T5NU3

HighNess

In the grand old tradition of cashing in on the existence of the royals, and in the less grand and way less old tradition of me making unhelpful journals (the ultimate snarky gratitude journal and new-ness) comes the latest amazing offer. An exploita

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