Disability adjustment & you
By Liel Bridgford [3 minutes read]
Is it normal to be anxious or depressed when you live with disability or when you just received a new diagnosis or experience a relapse?
[a white disabled person traveling in their wheelchair on a bike path on a road, their crutches connected to the back of the chair, as they’re heading towards a pedestrian crossing.]
It's a really understandable to be sad and angry, confused or anxious. But, you don’t have to feel like that forever.
You can reach a point where you can live well with disability. It is possible to be happy and adjusted while living with disability.
To get there, you can work on practicing acceptance. This starts with talking about how you feel, with allowing yourself to experience the grief and shock with someone that you feel safe with.
It is also normal for grief responses to return when we experience a relapse, or new symptoms or receive an additional diagnosis. If this happens for you, it doesn’t mean you are back in ‘square one’ or will never be happy again. All it means is that you have a natural response to a difficult situation, while living in an ableist society that reinforces your internalised ableism.
Each time a response like this appears, practice making room for it, creating art with it, talking about it and practice self-compassion to help get through this difficult time. Self-compassionate actions can include anything from a positive mantra like ‘I’m here for myself’, to taking time off responsibilties, to eating your favourite snack.
Learning disability acceptance tools and practicing regularly will help you adjust to changes more effectively and live more meaningfully - no matter your diagnoses, no matter your symptoms.
Having the right support around you is also key. Take your time to think about what you need, what you are missing and reach out whenever possible. Social connections, finding your people and having the right help for your needs are also essential for your social and emotional wellbeing. You can start by reaching out to a GP, friend, or online support groups for disabled people.
Eventually you can reach a point of living well and meaningfully with disability. You most definitely deserve to.
Liel Bridgford
Psychologist, Writer, Educator
Kultivate Founder & Director
