Preparing Oneself When Facing Disability

Being born with a disability can be considered a challenge, but suddenly finding yourself disabled can be a harrowing experience.

12:21 20 March 2020

Aside from all the forms of inconvenience that come with recent disabilities, psychological effects like phantom pain, for instance, further reveal how traumatic suddenly becoming disabled can be. Most of the patients who had their limbs amputated for any reason experience sensations that usually resemble pain in a part of their body that no longer exists; it’s not easy to treat medically. Whether your situation is worse or better, we’ll do our best to help you readjust your life to overcome the challenges of disability.

Mourning

A lot of people will try to suppress their emotions to avoid thinking about what they have lost, whether it’s a sensory organ or a dear friend. Unfortunately, avoiding grieving and pain will never get you over your loss. Instead of trying to fight your natural instinct to mourn your loss, try to proactively face it. Your feelings, whatever they may be, are valid and are not to be judged by anyone, including you.

Reduce the Burden

Once you’ve managed to accept your disability and its significant impact on your life, you’ll need to find new ways to make your life easier. Devotion and commitment are important in helping you find the right ways to live your life happily. If you’re the enemy of yourself, you won’t be able to go forward and face the challenges of life. Try to take charge of all the little details of your disability and use your knowledge to empower yourself and fulfill your needs.

Even the most seemingly innocent slip and fall accident in a public place or a supermarket can produce disabilities that can affect your mobility and motor functions for a long time. Going through such a life-changing event can leave you unprepared for the future. But if you do your research, you’ll know that states like Florida give you the right to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain, and lost wages from the owner if they were negligent. If you use the right attorney to prove the negligence of the property’s owner, you’ll be able to recover both financial and non-financial damages.

Gather Support

It’s highly advised to create a network of supportive people who can help you when you’re down in the dumps. Try to expand your support circle to include at least 3 people from various activities or places you used to spend time in. Your support network should educate themselves on how to recognize and deal with the effects of the disability. Leaving a key with a trusted member of your support network should put your mind at ease shall you need urgent help.

Be Proactive

If recovering from your disability doesn’t happen right away, don’t feel down. Instead, try to use the newest technologies and innovative tools to reduce the impact of your disability on your life. Whether it’s a prosthetic limb, a cane, or an electric wheelchair that you decide to use to ease your troubles, never allow yourself to be held back by stigma or social prejudice. You need to keep finding new ways to learn new skills that suit your preferences. The process is not going to be easy, because it will seem unnatural trying to find alternative ways to do the things that you did seamlessly prior to your disability.

Look for Purpose

There is no doubt that a disability can impact your sense of identity in many ways. You may start questioning your ideals and values as you face the turmoil and chaos that were caused by the disability. Even if what you used to do for fun or work is no longer viable, don’t give up on finding new skills and activities to do. A lot of experts recommend doing volunteer work as a way to show yourself how productive you can be. Keep your passion lit when you’re trying to figure out a creative way to join in.

Adopt a Pet

Aside from being a pet that can comfort you through the sleepless nights, a pet can aid you in your search for validation. The companionship of animals has always been known for its positive effects on the human psyche. This doesn’t mean that you won’t need a group of supportive friends, but it will certainly reduce the negative impact of isolation. You can consider adopting stray animals and volunteering at the nearest animal shelter to strengthen the bond between you and the animals.

The adjustment period for people with a new disability varies depending on their disability and character. Luckily, our spirit is one of ability and perseverance that no disability can steal away. There is still hope to get out of this dark place as long as you can look forward to a bright future. And never forget that— traumatic as it may be— disability is a matter of perception.