As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, I find myself thinking about the conversations that have been surfacing everywhere lately—from group therapy, healing circles to public healthcare meetings. The topic? The spoon theory. And more importantly, how protecting our energy isn't just self-care fluff, but a radical act of survival and self-advocacy for those of us living with chronic pain and disability.

Mental health is just as essential as physical health, yet it has lived in the shadows for far too long. We’re encouraged to seek help for a fever or a fractured bone, but when we’re carrying invisible wounds like depression, anxiety...