Becoming disabled is life-altering. You might be upset about the activities that you can no longer do and believe that your quality of life will be diminished. You might also start to feel resentful or jealous of the future that you could have had, and find that you are starting to withdraw from the people who love you- and who you love. However, to move on, it is important that you come to terms with your new situation and that you look toward a bright future where you can live hand in hand with your disability and see that the world is still full of possibilities for you and your family.
1. Acknowledge Your Emotions
There is a range of emotions that you might be feeling: anger, regret, shame, fear, and sadness. Any emotion that you feel is fine. Whatever you do, you should not hide the emotions that you feel or try to brush over them. Instead, it is vital that you take the time to sit down and allow your emotions to wash through you, even if this does not happen instantly. Only by acknowledging your emotions and accepting your new state will you be able to move on and start to see the good elements of life again.
2. Seek Therapy
Many people who are newly disabled may experience feelings of depression and anxiety, and they might even struggle with suicidal thoughts. You might think that there is only help out there for physical conditions. However, this is not the case. Everyone can get support for their mental health, especially under life-changing circumstances. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a therapist or you might decide to look around for one that you trust yourself. Whatever pathway you take, by seeking out therapy, you will be ensuring that you have a safe space in which to talk about and process your emotions. This will be led by an unbiased professional, many of whom may specialize in working with those who are disabled.
3. Make Home Adaptations ‘
Home adaptations will change your life and how you think of your disability. They will enable you to get around your house more easily. They can even prevent you from moving. This means that you need to look out for a company that can provide you with high-quality adaptations that have been designed with residential homes in mind. For instance, you might look around for wheelchair lifts as these can enable you to move between the storeys of your house without any trouble.
4. Do Your Research
Next, you need to do your research. The more you understand your condition, the more you will be able to cope with it. Luckily, there is a lot of medical information available online on a variety of conditions and circumstances, including details of the support that you can get. You should always check that you are using a recommended source, though, to ensure that this does not induce panic in you and that the medical information that the website gives is correct.
