It’s impossible for those who have never experienced a life altering and debilitating injury to imagine what it’s like to go through the grief of losing your ability to walk, stand or even utilize the hands that you never gave a thought to before. For the thousands who sustain a paralyzing injury every year, this reality is one that is all too real.
Making it through this trying period can often seem like a insurmountable challenge, but with time and support, those with paralysids are able to reorganize and readjust to their changed lives. Jobs, relationships and everyday activities now require new maps to be drawn in order to navigate what used to be familiar territory.
The steps immediately following are familiar to anyone who has experienced a significant loss in their lives: denial, isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. Often the person who is newly injured will try to ignore what has happened and try to pretend that their paralysis isn’t now a fact of life. They will attempt to isolate themselves in order to keep their injury from being brought to their attention. Then, when there is no choice but to acknowledge the paralysis, anger sets in.
The loss of one’s limbs often seems unfair, creating a sense of injustice and anger. This is then followed by bargaining with doctors and with an individual’s representation of God, with depression close on its heels. Finally comes acceptance. At this point, the person finally accepts the reality of their loss.
This pattern varies depending on the individual, but becoming familiar with these stages will help either you realize that these feelings are normal and others have not only dealt with them but gotten through to the other side intact.
Regaining control of your life is important, and through self-education you can find a means to do it. Find out all you can about the injury and the options that are available to help make your environment more conducive to your needs. There are modifications that can be made to your car, your house and everything within it that will make things a great deal more accessible.
With time, you will adjust to your disability and gain a thorough understanding of how to educate others about it, what to ask for to have your needs met and how to properly take care of yourself physically and emotionally.
This is not an easy condition to get used to, but in time, you will be able to have a life as full and engrossing in a way that you never imagined before becoming paralyzed – and with the constant advances being made in science, the chance for a treatment grows with every day that passes.