When you have a disability such as a lost limb, vision problem or a disease that affects you physically it is all the more important to stay healthy. And sometimes it is extremely difficult to do the things you should in order to gain optimum health. All you can do is try your best and be guided by your doctor or health care professionals. Here are some of the ways you can stay healthy both physically, mentally and emotionally.
Physically: Get all the exercise you can with your type of disability. Whether you go to a gym, can swim in a pool, have some form of exercise aides in your home or depend on another person to help you exercise, it is vital to move your body in as many ways as possible to keep as fit as you can. If you don’t it will be very difficult to stay healthy and your muscles will just waste away until you can hardly move at all.
Mentally: Exercise of the mind is just as important as exercising the body, no matter if you have a disability or not. However, a disabled person is often deprived of the many sights and sounds that can stir up the mind and imagination to become creative and educated as far as possible. Letting your mind go to the pack can make it difficult for people to relate to you, talk to you and make you understand what it is necessary for you to know in order to stay fit physically and in your mental health. There are many ways to exercise your mind, from watching documentaries and even movies on TV to reading informational books and magazines. You may be able to take a correspondence course in something you are interested in. Doing various kinds of puzzles, learning a craft and even playing cards also helps your mind to stay active.
Emotionally: You may think it very difficult to stay emotionally healthy when you have such disabilities to overcome. However, take a look at those who have trodden the same path before you and realise that it can be done. You can have happy relationships with many different people in your life. You can join a club, give talks about your disability, go out with friends socially or ask them to come and visit you. You may even be able to have a pet, if you are able to care for it. All these things will help you to become emotionally healthier even if you are still grieving for the life – and limbs – you have lost. There are many people out there who are trained and willing to help you, so don’t shut yourself away from them. Reach out to people and they will reach out to you.