Some medical professionals have related the early emotions of vision loss to the “stages of grief” that a person goes through after the death of a loved one, as defined by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
These stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Denial, anger, depression, and finally, acceptance of the loss of a loved one are the phases that make up the grieving process.
The first thing you need to do in order to navigate the many stages successfully is to educate yourself on how each stage affects not only you but also the others in your immediate environment.
One of the numerous benefits that come along with getting insight is the capacity to manage situations directly, soothe your fears, and move forward. This is only one of the many perks. When going through this process, there are a few things that will be of assistance to you that you should keep in mind, and they are as follows:
You are not alone. Visual impairment affects approximately 6.5 million people in the United States, the majority of whom are over the age of 55 and come from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Do not be afraid to seek out other individuals experiencing vision loss, as well as specialists who specialize in vision loss, to gain knowledge, guidance, and inspiration. Do not be afraid to seek out other people who are experiencing vision loss.
You can keep living a life full of experiences and achievements for as long as you like. Again, suppose you are willing to make some modifications. In that case, there is no reason why you should not be able to continue enjoying your favorite pastimes and interests, in addition to participating in activities with your family, performing volunteer work, and traveling.
All you need to do is be flexible. In fact, those who have made a conscious decision to participate in all aspects of society’s life are the ones who are consistently successful in overcoming the challenges associated with vision loss on a daily basis.
You are not compelled to stop what you are doing and take a break at any time. The vast majority of people with visual loss are able to continue working; in fact, many of them can even continue working in the same vocations they have been doing all along as long as they obtain the appropriate assistance and make the required adjustments.
There are, of course, some deviations from the norm; however, you will find fewer of them than you might anticipate. It is highly likely that the person who took care of your most recent energy bill, maintained the transmission in your vehicle, or kept an eye on the stock market all live with some degree of vision impairment.
You can remain autonomous. Whether you have noticed a slight decline in your vision or are facing the prospect of losing it entirely, there are solutions and tools available that are both affordable and easy to access that can assist you in performing essential tasks on your own, such as navigating your home safely, preparing meals in a manner that is not hazardous, paying your bills, and engaging in other activities.
Solutions and tools can help you perform activities such as cooking meals in a manner that is not hazardous, navigating your home safely, and engaging in other activities.
Even more encouraging is the fact that the market is being flooded with brand-new technological advancements explicitly designed for people who have lost some or all of their vision almost daily. Also, everyday devices like computers and household appliances can be easily made to work for you by using simple labeling techniques.
