Confidence of height

Last year I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis after a 5 year battle of investigations. I started biologic treatment and proper physio, and I’ve seen such an amazing improvement where I feel I have got my life back.

Part of my damage, outside of the auto immune issues, also came from bad posture from years of, I think, sloughing and not embracing my height of 6ft9. I lacked confidence with my height and even going back to high school it was something that set me apart from others and what I was teased for.

As part of my treatment I attend a clinic for 2 weeks every 6 months doing physio which is excellent, and it’s where I am right now. But the frustrating thing I find is every single person; nurse, doctors and physio all make jokes about my height and I feel it has such a negative to my recovery I’m working on. You would think those working in the field should recognise the impact that has.

Looking at the wider world I’ve heard every joke you can think of and it’s so cringy to hear people think they are being funny, but then having to listen to them tell me they have a nephew my height etc when they see I am unimpressed. (I so rarely see someone my height I’ve drawn the conclusion everyone has the same nephew!)

It pains me that it’s the one characteristic that defines me (and I do recognise that’s what we as humans do) but if I was short, fat, underweight, hunchback etc etc people would never pass comment.

Does anyone else of similar height experience the same issue and has axspa? If you don’t like people commenting on your height how do you normally respond?

I know the simple answer is to be proud of my height but that’s easier said than done.

And no I have better career prospects than changing lightbulbs in your house, my mother did not put me in a grow bag as a child, I do not play basketball, and the weather at my height is the same as your height.