Embracing your identity: Learning to live and thrive with a disability

Living with a disability or condition comes with its own set of challenges. Adjusting to a day-to-day routine that involves a wheelchair, crutches, or walker can be a frustrating experience. While adapting to a life with a disability is no easy feat, there are ways in which you can make the coping process easier.

With these helpful tips, you can find simple and effective methods to develop positivity and a healthy lifestyle.

Acceptance

One of the hardest aspects of living with a disability is acceptance. According to reputable life coach services, accepting your disability may feel like you’re throwing in the towel and giving up, but that isn’t true. Accepting your disability means taking that first plunge into a new lifestyle, which is one of the bravest and most admirable things you can do. Bottling up your feelings and refusing to accept your new reality will only make things worse.

How To Accept
The best course of action to get yourself on the path toward acceptance include the following:

• Don’t be hard on yourself.
• Don’t ignore your feelings.
• Don’t dwell on what you can and cannot do.
• Let yourself emote.
• Learn everything you can about living with a disability.

Half the battle is allowing yourself to feel what you want to feel. Once you can do that, you will find yourself accepting your situation more and more each day.

Stress Control

An important step to living well is stress control. You’re going to face many challenges that can increase your stress and anxiety. It’s paramount to manage and control your stress levels.

Side Effects of Stress

Some common side effects of stress from living with a disability include:

• Anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Self-isolation

Strategies for Maintaining Stress

As you may have noticed, the side effects of stress can only worsen your experience. That’s why you need to find coping strategies for maintaining stress.

Some strategies include:

• Finding a support system
• Engaging in new hobbies
• Taking care of animals
• Spending time outdoors
• Speaking with a professional

Make Your Health a Priority

If you want to feel better, you’ll need to stay on top of managing your health. That’s why you must prioritize your health and practice good habits.

For starters, you should allow yourself a healthy amount of sleep each night. Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. Getting 7-9 hours a night can help your brain and body flush out toxins and refresh.

Furthermore, exercising will help your body stay fit and strong while decreasing your stress or tension. Exercising is great for your mental health and can play a role in improving your sleep schedule.

It’s important to start small and work your way up. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, especially if you’re still adjusting to your new lifestyle. Listen to your body and treat it like a temple. Many professionals recommend deep-tissue massage therapy to help alleviate stress or pain.

In addition to exercise, eating well can help battle health complications and physical limitations. The best way to maintain a healthy diet is to:

• Minimize your sugar intake.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Choose nutritional foods.
• Get enough protein.

Search for Meaning

It can be easy to fall into the feeling of helplessness when you’re living with a disability. It’s strongly encouraged that you find something that gives you purpose and meaning. Everyone on earth has something that they love and admire. Why can’t you?

The best way to determine what you find interesting is to include the following questions:

• What do I enjoy?
• What do I not want to lose in my life?
• What are the things that can make life interesting now?
• What am I looking forward to tomorrow?

Asking yourself these questions can help narrow down the things that keep you interested and motivated, whether it be writing, music, sports, or exploring the great outdoors.

Your limitations may not be as limiting as you think. There are various ways you can live well with a disability. Look at the many people around us who do it every day. You can be one of them. We hope our tips help you in your search for positivity and bliss.