How to Mentally Adapt to a Physical Disability
There are so many things that can cause a physical disability, such as a car accident, a work accident, a sports accident, a diving accident, a fall, natural ageing that makes it hard to move around, a spinal cord tumour, infection, or stroke, being a victim of violence, having a limb amputated, or many other things.
No matter what caused the disability, it is clear that it is very hard to get used to having one. It can take a long time, and is not always easy to learn how to adjust. Everyone handles things in their own way, and no two journeys are the same.
If you just got a new physical disability and are struggling to deal with it, it may help to keep a few things in mind as you try to figure out how to live in this new world. Read on to find out more.
Get The Tools You Need
Although it might be hard to understand or think about, if you now have a physical disability, the life you had before the accident or incident won’t be the same one you have now. Your home might have to change. For example – you might need a stairlift or grab bars, or you might even have to move. Driving might be more difficult; perhaps you now need a specific design car. If you can no longer drive, would a scooter from mobilitysolutions.co.uk give you the freedom you’re worried you’ll miss?
In other words, what tools do you need to continue your life with as little disruption as possible? It’s a good idea to work this out sooner rather than later so you can keep going and keep doing what you need to do – you’ll feel more positive if this is the case.
Take The Time You Need
It will take a very long time to get used to a new disability. No one actually knows how long it will take for you to feel like this is your “new normal” or for you to feel like “you” again.
It doesn’t take a day, a month, or a year to happen. It’s a process that keeps changing as you change and learn how to live in what may feel like a new body or a body that doesn’t belong to you. Give yourself the time and space you need to figure out how to deal with all the big changes in your life.
Focus On The Here And Now
Your thoughts may be going fast right now. Can I ever get back on my feet? Will I be able to handle things on my own? How will I get into my home, apartment, or bathroom? Can I go to work again? If I can’t do everything on my own, who will help me?
Give yourself some room to relax. You don’t have to understand everything right away. As time goes on, you’ll learn more about what to expect and how to prepare. Right now, you should try to figure out what happened, get used to how your body feels and moves, and look for small, easy goals to start working towards.
