Disclaimer: This information is a general overview about how to deal with a disability. If you or someone you know is disabled and needs legal help, consult a lawyer as soon as possible. He/she will help you decide on the legal steps that you can take.
The essential component when you want to move forward after a disability is to accept the loss of your limb, for example, with positivity. You should continue to meet with your therapist and doctor. Remember to stay on your prescribed meds.You should exercise regularly to keep your body healthy and strong.
These things can help you, but an attitude that’s positive will help you get up every day and will push you to go to work. Thinking positive will help you live your life to the fullest, instead of living isolated from the world, staying alone at home and avoiding other people. There are a lot of people who have got injured from the war, for example, yet return to civilian life and live their days full of excitement and activities. Positive thinking is essential in overcoming obstacles in your life.
If you’re having a hard time accepting your predicament, you should consider how someone who’s resilient would handle living with a disability. People who are resilient tend to have fewer illnesses and can cope better with those who are not.
So, how can you make yourself one of those resilient few? Well, here are the key ways to help make your life positive after a disability:
1.) Learn to ask for help.
If you keep yourself, your body, and your surroundings clean and organized, you’ll be able to become confident and lower your stress levels. And if there are tasks that you can’t do by yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You can ask help in organizing from:
- Your family
- Your friends
- Charities, church or government programs
If you can’t find help in the place where you live, maybe you can consider moving to a city that has better resources that are more available and more geared toward helping people like you live independently.
You have the right to keep yourself clean, organized, live in a comfortable environment, and to get help to do so. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as it’s not your fault if you can’t do things on your own.
2.) Accept help graciously.
Aside from asking help from others, you should also learn to accept help graciously. Learn to thank helpers and friends at all times, even for the smallest things.
And if you think you can get better help, seek out better alternatives, especially if the people that are supposed to lend you a hand are cruel or abusive to you. You should think of things in the long run, what might be acceptable during an emergency might not be acceptable under long-term circumstances. You should never let yourself get trapped in an unacceptable situation.
3.)Exercise as much as you can.
In any way that you can, make sure to get a lot of exercises. If your disability prevents you from doing the ‘normal‘ exercises like other people, ask your doctor what your options are. And if you can’t do any physical exercises, then you can always exercise your mind.
Remember to:
- Never compare your progress with other people’s
- Never be ashamed if you can’t do what other people can
- Don’t force yourself if you can’t do something
- Know that effort counts more
4.) Be calm when dealing with people who are obnoxious.
Keep your dignity, even if other people make fun of you. You should know that the sympathy of most people is with you, not with the heckler.
You should:
- When you retort, judge your timing
- If they’re being funny, be funnier
- If they’re trying to put you down, laugh with them or at them
Keep your head upall the time. The social challenges of people with disabilities require real courage.
5.) Take time to grieve.
Take time to accept your situation; it may take weeks, months, or even years, but if you put your mind into it, you’ll get there. Seek support from your:
- Counselors
- Closest friends
- Family
- Therapist
Remember to not take out your feelings on others, especially not on those people who are “there” for you.
6.) Never beat yourself up.
At times, you may not realize it, but you forget to be nice to other people. This can happen, especially if your wounds are still fresh. Never beat yourself up if this happens. However, learn to apologize once you know it’s your fault.
7.) Take advantage of everything.
Some disabilities would require you to get extensive retraining to utilize any life strategy or prosthetics that can help you live your life. Remember that even if you can’t beat your disability, you can improve the way you live your life. Make use of any assistance that you can get. If for instance you can get yourself insurance, do seek professionals who can help you get them, such as those here.
Don’t be embarrassed to use:
- Cane
- Wheelchair
- Prosthetics
- Service dog
8.) Know your rights.
If someone or an establishment have discriminated against you because of your disability, never let that get to you. Know that just like them, you have your rights. When you get discriminated against, consult a lawyer on what should you do. The lawyer will be able to help you to deal with these people legally.
Do Your Best With What You Have
In the end, you should do your best with what you have right now. You didn’t choose to become disabled, but you do have a choice to make on how well you’ll live your life every single day.
It’s essential that you pat yourself on the back for your every success, whether big or small. Don’t beat yourself up for your failures, and don’t judge yourself through other people’s eyes.
Andrew Nickleson
Andrew is a passionate writer, writing about disabilities and the law. He has written about many subjects aimed to help those who have questions unanswered. In his spare time he enjoys working on volunteering for those less fortunate.
