Living with a Disabilty (Free Online Magazine)

Often, when you have a disability or live on Social Security benefits, you can feel quite isolated. Maybe it’s difficult for you to leave the house to attend scheduled social events; maybe you have a social anxiety disorder that makes interacting with others a near impossibility; you might feel as if you’re not contributing to society because you’re unable to work. You’re not alone: Many people with disabilities feel sad and lonely or suffer from clinical depression.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are many ways to give yourself a quick shot in the arm, if you’re willing to try. Here are 20 simple, sure-fire ways to experience an instant lift in your mood.

1. Talk to a friend. If you can’t get out and visit them, pick up the phone. Don’t wait for others to call you, make the call yourself. Who knows? Maybe they were just waiting to hear from you.
2. Explore old memories. Get your photo albums and diaries off the shelf and reminisce about your favorite memories of the past. Be happy about the life you’ve led and the experiences you’ve had.
3. Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins which make you happy.
4. Read a book. Getting absorbed in a good story can make you forget your own problems for a while.
5. Plan something fun. It could be your next vacation or simply making a date with a friend to visit a museum or go shopping. Having things to look forward to can instantly lift a bad mood.
6. Bake your favorite treat. Although you shouldn’t medicate sadness with food, sometimes baking your favorite cookie or cake recipe can be a great way to banish the blues. It’s even better if you can share the results with a friend or neighbor.
7. Listen to music. Turn on your favorite feel-good music – the kind that conjures up happy memories – and dance!
8. Learn something new. Sign up for a community class, visit the library or surf the Internet to keep your brain occupied with a new hobby or interest.
9. Pamper yourself. Do something indulgent: enjoy a bubble bath, apply a facial mask, get or give yourself a manicure or schedule a massage.
10. Volunteer. Doing something good for others will give your life new meaning. Contact your favorite local charities and ask if they need volunteers.
11. Clean. Tackle clutter on a countertop, sort through a cabinet, chest of drawers or kitchen junk drawer. You’ll finish with a tremendous sense of achievement.
12. Hang out with children. Children have an endless sense of wonder about the world and never fail to amaze and delight. Who knows – they just might teach you a trick or two!
13. Do something nice. Help your neighbor clean out his garage, send flowers to someone you love “just because” or pay for a stranger’s coffee at a restaurant. Doing nice things for someone else reminds us that there’s more to life than what’s going on in our own heads.
14. Enjoy nature. Sit in the yard, walk in the sunshine, relax under the trees, examine the colors of a beautiful garden.
15. Watch comedy. Whether you go out to a live show, put on a favorite DVD or watch something funny on TV, take time to laugh.
16. Decorate your home. Brighten up a room in your home with fresh paint, a new piece or artwork, or a fresh bunch of flowers. Consider a little redecorating by moving furniture around from room to room.
17. Do something silly. Blow bubbles, make a fort out of blankets in your living room, or go to the park and play on the swings.
18. Do something scary. Conquer a fear like skydiving, going on a spider encounter, or learning to swim.
19. Stop watching the news. Death, war, famine, and catastrophe – it’s on the news every night. Turn off the TV and do something peaceful instead.
20. Reach out. If you’re feeling sad, tell someone. If you need a hug, ask for one. People in your life are ready and willing to help you; all they need is your permission.

If you find yourself feeling sad all the time, or if activities that used to bring you joy now hold no interest, consider talking to a counselor or mental health professional. No one should feel bad about life, especially not you!

If you, or someone in your family, live with a disability, it can be hard to find the support you need. You may feel alone, or that no one else understands what you’re going through. While family and friends can be good sounding boards, they can also lack a specific understanding of your unique situation. That’s where a support group comes in.

Support groups provide a friendly shoulder to people who share similar situations. They’re a place where you can meet with other people experiencing a similar disability – swap stories, share tips and form strategies for dealing with what life brings.

Choosing the right support group is vital, as certain groups will fit your needs better than others, and it can take time and patience to find a group you feel comfortable with. Here are some tips for finding the best disability support group for you:

Know What You Want

Support groups have different functions, and your specific needs will dictate what type of group you feel most comfortable in. Most support groups can be divided into two distinct groups:

• Social – Social support groups meet primarily to socialize with people in a similar situation. They might undertake activities each month, like attending a show or sporting event, or invite guest speakers to meetings. They might simply meet regularly to chat and share.

• Advocacy – Advocacy support groups are focused on raising awareness of a disability in the community. They may be involved in different charitable activities and may spend a lot of time lobbying for change and speaking about different issues affecting the disabled community.

Most support groups fall on a sliding scale between these two extremes, with aspects of both intertwined. But only by visiting different groups and learning about what they do will you be able to decide the type of group that best fits your needs and comfort level.

Choose How You Participate

• In-person support groups meet regularly face-to-face to discuss issues and enjoy each other’s company. They are often hosted by local disability organizations and community groups. These groups provide an important way to learn about local support systems and gain a network of valuable contacts.

Support group members may also help each other by rotating baby-sitting duties or finding a particular service professional for a fellow member. They can be a source of lifelong friendships.

o Visit a couple of different support groups to assess which one is best for your needs. Some might be dominated by strong personalities, or you may simply feel uncomfortable sharing personal information with other group members. Many people find in-person support groups great for sympathy, but not as useful when it comes to providing workable solutions.

• Online message boards and email support groups are great if you don’t have time or mobility to attend in-person meetings, if you feel more comfortable behind the anonymity of the internet, or you have specific questions that you want a variety of opinions on. These support groups come in many forms:

An email list, where members can add to and reply to conversations via email; a discussion forum, where members can make posts on specific topics and add their replies to other’s posts. Both email and forums have the advantage of being more secure – you usually need to be a member to see the posts.

o Just be aware that almost everyone posting on the internet considers themselves experts, and just because someone says they’re a doctor or has experience with a particular condition, doesn’t mean they actually do. Before taking medical advice from an online source, follow up with independent medical advice to see if the suggestion would work in your situation.

Support groups can be lifesavers, offering many people with disabilities the chance to meet with and swap advice with others in similar situations. If nothing else, a solid support group can help reduce the feelings of isolation and frustration that often accompany disabilities. Get out there and discover your own support system!