If you’ve recently become disabled, you’re likely experiencing many negative emotions. It’s easy to feel like nothing in your life will ever be the same. Maybe you feel like you’ll lose friends since you can’t socialise as much, or you worry that you’ll be seen as just a disabled person.
Disabilities and illnesses can develop during your lifetime, and can also come on suddenly.
The first thing you need to do is give yourself some time to come to terms with your new reality. Your friends and family are likely to be there to support you as much as you can. While it’s likely that you will have a huge range of emotions, it’s important to eventually begin feeling enthusiastic about your life again.
It can be a good idea to speak with a counsellor, as they can give you some excellent tips for dealing with some of these emotions. Often, conversations with friends and family will be dominated by your illness for a long time, but eventually they will begin to move on. A counsellor can understand all of your feelings and help you work through them.
It’s also important to look after yourself. Find something new that you enjoy that will work with your disability. Maybe you enjoy working with your hands and like to knit, or you could just prefer to get lost in a good book with a cup of tea. Be sure to give yourself positive reinforcement whenever you have a small achievement or have a positive day.
Consider making a gratitude list each morning. Even if you’re currently dealing with a disability, there are likely many other things in your life that you can be grateful for.
Another important aspect is to continue to do as many tasks as you can. This will give you a sense of achievement and will ensure that you retain your independence. You may be able to get around easier on a mobility scooter, and this can open up a whole new world if you’ve previously been unable to visit the local supermarket or go down to the park with your children or grandchildren.
A mobility scooter is a great option for many people, and many of these newer scooters are excellent to travel with- you can even fold it up and put it in the back of a car so you can easily get around once you’re at your destination.
While it’s normal to experience depression when you begin to deal with a disability, you should try to avoid secluding yourself away from the world. If you have a wheelchair or disability scooter, you can still get out and about and see the world, socialise with your friends, and do your own shopping.
Keeping your independence for as long as you can will make it much easier for you to deal with your disability.
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