While you may not be able to change your disability, you can reduce its impact on your daily life by seeking out and embracing whatever adaptive technologies and tools are available. As you take charge, you’ll also start to feel less helpless and more empowered. Knowledge is power, so educate yourself about your rights and the resources available to you. You are your own best advocate as you negotiate the challenges of life with a disability, including at work and in the healthcare system. But with commitment, creativity, and a willingness to do things differently, you can reduce the impact your disability has on your life.īe your own advocate. You’ve got limitations that make things more difficult. It doesn’t help to live in denial about that. It goes without saying that your disability has already changed your life in big ways. What’s your diagnosis? What is the typical progression or common complications? Knowing what’s going on with your body and what to expect will help you prepare yourself and adjust more quickly.įind ways to minimize your disability’s impact on your life While obsessing over negative medical information is counterproductive, it’s important to understand what you’re facing. Learn as much as possible about your disability.This gives you something to look forward to. Focus on what you can do and what you hope to do in the future. Spending lots of time thinking about the things your disability has taken from you is a surefire recipe for depression. Don’t dwell on what you can no longer do.You can learn from others who have gone before you, and their successes can help you stay motivated during tough times. It may help to search out inspiring stories of people with disabilities who are thriving and living lives they love. It may not seem like it now, but the truth is that you can build a happy, meaningful life for yourself, even if you’re never able to walk, hear, or see like you used to. You can be happy, even in a “broken” body.It’s healthy to grieve the life you’ve lost, but it’s not healthy to continue looking back and wishing for a return to your pre-disability “normal.” As tough as it is, it’s important to let go of the past and accept where you are. Let the people you trust know how you’re really feeling. And pretending you’re okay when you’re not doesn’t help anyone-least of all your family and friends. Having bad days doesn’t mean you’re not brave or strong. Learning to live with a disability isn’t easy. Just trust that with time, the lows will become less intense and you will begin to find your new normal. And like a roller coaster, the experience is unpredictable and full of ups and downs. You’re likely to go through a roller coaster of emotions-from anger and sadness to disbelief. Allow yourself to fully experience your feelings without judgement. It’s only human to want to avoid pain, but just like you won’t get over an injury by ignoring it, you can’t work through grief without allowing yourself to feel it and actively deal with it. Not just the loss of your healthy, unlimited body, but likely the loss of at least some of your plans for the future.ĭon’t try to ignore or suppress your feelings. Give yourself time to mournīefore you can accept your disability, you first need to grieve. It prevents you from moving forward, making the changes you need to make, and finding new goals. But refusing to accept the reality of your limitations keeps you stuck. Acceptance can feel like giving in-throwing in the towel on life and your future. It can be incredibly difficult to accept your disability. Millions of people have traveled this road before you (the CDC estimates that 1 in 4 Americans lives with a disability) and found ways to not just survive, but thrive. But while living with a disability isn’t easy, it doesn’t have to be a tragedy. You may wonder how you’ll be able to work, find or keep a relationship, or even be happy again. So, when you’re hit by a disabling illness or injury, it can trigger a range of unsettling emotions and fears. Most of us expect to live long, healthy lives. No matter your disability, it’s entirely possible to overcome the challenges you face and enjoy a full-and fulfilling-life. You are still in control of your life and there are many ways to improve your independence, sense of empowerment, and outlook. But while you can’t go back in time to a healthier you or wish away your limitations, you can change the way you think about and cope with your disability. Then, it’s all too easy to obsess over what we’ve lost. We all tend to take our health for granted-until it’s gone. Illness & disability Living Well with a Disability Adapting to life with a disability is never easy, but there are ways to help yourself cope with limitations, overcome challenges, and build a rewarding life.Īdjusting to life with a disability can be a difficult transition.
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