ME/CFS: a walking stick helped a lot, but self-consciousness sometimes kept them in

Summary

A 24-year-old had been using a walking stick for a while and said it helped a lot of the time. Feeling self-conscious about using an aid at their age sometimes kept them from going out at all rather than risk severe consequences from walking unaided, though on relatively good days they could manage without it. They had never had a negative comment about the stick, and said people sometimes offered a seat or help.