Understanding Limitations: Accommodating Disability

Clarifying What Disability Means: Understanding Your Limits

In the previous post we discussed mental and physical disability and what happens emotionally and mentally when you realize you cannot live as you once did. I got a few comments with distress about the use of the word 'disability'. This is a stigmatized word. Saying someone is disabled is almost an insult to some. Just like how the word retarded used to be degrading, now we use mentally challenged. I have even heard preferences towards physical disability's being called physical impairments. The word doesn't really matter so much as the meaning behind it that is the key, limits. Like it or not whether you have a physical illness or mental illness you are surely limited in daily activities, personal affairs, social situations, etc. This means there is just some things you can't do anymore or you can't do sometimes. A disability doesn't have to be permanent.

For example if I have anxiety and I have to take a test most likely I will not do well as compared to if I was calm. How well can you do certain tasks when your minds in total meltdown? Probably not as well as when your mind is calm and organized. This is what I mean about disability. With this as I mentioned in the previous post this causes frustration within ourselves. Anger, resentment, and frustration at our inability to cope with situations, do our jobs well, or communicate with our loved ones effectively. I am sure some of you have seen this in yourselves, where once you were the go to person that could multi-task and get things done, now your mind gets so overwhelmed you can't think straight and you end up not doing most of the stuff on your to do list. You as a person have changed, right now, or for periods of time you are unable to do what you once did. This leads to feelings associated with loss of identity and lowered self-esteem.

From my experience and from what I have observed in others I find that without the conscience acceptance of our limits with mental and even physical disability the more prone we are to relapse and fall off the proverbial horse and hit the ground hard! This is what I saw with my unwillingness to accept I had a mental illness. I lived a way that was detrimental to my health because I viewed myself as perfectly capable, rational, and took on things that led to the demise of a good chunk of my life. If I were to have realized my strengths and weaknesses perhaps I would of handled things differently. 

When disability or illness hits we have to change how we live. We have to asses within ourselves what we can't do and can do. On an earlier forum today dealing with physical illness a women posted,”We cannot think about what we can't do but rather what we can.”

Accommodation for our needs is the key element to turning a can't into a can. An example I can give you is I have a very hard time grocery shopping. I have a horrid memory and easily get confused and disoriented. So to accommodate my mental meltdown in the grocery store I make a list of everything I need. I go as far as taking a pen with me and I carefully mark off every item I put in the basket. The pen is a life saver! Without it I get just as confused and disoriented. I am the women in the store clutching the white paper in one hand a pen in the other looking around intently hunting down her sought after items! -I am very aware I look like a mad women, that's okay though I get my shopping done.

I have seen a lot written about accommodating illness and disability’s in the work place and school but not for our day to day lives. These are important as well but if we have trouble doing simple daily tasks like cleaning the house and caring for our children and spouses it is a huge blow to our self esteem and confidence.

This is where I get back to the basics of what this blog is all about, it's simple yet profound, mindfulness. Mindfulness is being the observer of ourselves and our environment and I go into more depth in it here. Becoming mindful of ourselves, our needs, and what our environment expects from us we can begin to formulate a plan to accommodate our limitations.

Disability and limitations doesn't mean you necessarily can't do something you just have to do it differently. That is how and why your unique, you become a mindful warrior, taking limitations and becoming limitless. I know this may sound like some sort of self help blurb right now but it's true.

Tips and Considerations: Managing Illness

First, if you are not already aware ask yourself honestly what you can and can't do. What tasks trigger stress, what tasks or situations are difficult to manage, what 'could' you do but are unable to now?

Tackle certain tasks at the right time of day. Ask yourself when you have the most energy and use that time to tackle more difficult tasks.

Take time or schedule time to relax. Do something you enjoy. Struggling with mental illness and the rainbow of difficulties it presents can be exhausting, like someone with a heart condition you need to take a breather.

Experiment! Try new ways of doing things.

Write down tasks or situations that send your mind into chaos and create new ways of handling them. A simple example that comes to mind is I have a heck of a time folding laundry. I get frustrated quick, however, I have found a new way to accomplish it and have fun! Seriously I did. I watch YouTube videos on my computer, now it's my secret time to kick back and relax.

I honestly can admit I have had a problem doing everything under the sun. My fix all solution is I meditate while I do things. Which means I focus on my senses, my breathe, what I see, feel, hear, smell. I become detached from the outcome of the task, I enjoy tasks that at one time drove me nuts, and every task can be refreshing and enjoyable.

This list is difficult for me to explain to you because everyone has different difficulties and I can only convey what I have done to turn limitations into do able feats. The most valuable tip I can offer is be creative. You have the power to be successful and to live everyday joyfully and overcome your limits. You may live differently than 'the norm' but the point is your living.