How to Deal with a New Disability

Some people have felt sorry for me because of my disabilities. I have been disabled my whole life, so this is all I know. I feel sorry for people who became disabled later in life because they remember what it was like to not be disabled. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) has some advice for these individuals:

1. Give yourself time to adjust to your new disability. It's normal to feel angry and resentful at first. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, now is as good a time as any to seek counseling so you can talk with someone about your feelings and discuss coping strategies.

2. Be aware it may take a while to receive assistance from the government. Be your own advocate by following up with agencies after a reasonable amount of time has passed. Keep good records of your interactions with the agencies.

3. Don't let your disability define you; it's only a part of who you are. Do your best to move on with a positive attitude. For information about how NMEDA can help, go to https://nmeda.com/coping-with-a-new-disability/.

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(image via nmeda.com)