How does your Disability or Chronic Pain/Illness affect your Mental Health?
Many aspects of disabilities, pain and illnesses can impact mental health, how does it affect yours?
Have you done anything to help cope better with these aspects?
@AffyAvo It's definitely impacted my mental health. Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out what is depression and what is Rheumatoid Arthritis, because the symptoms can be so similar.
The times I know it is the RA affecting my mental health are when I am feeling physically awful and start worrying about my future. I worry about how bad the illness could be, and if I can keep my job in fitness. I also get anxious about it. Sometimes I despair over all the things I don't think I'll ever be able to do.
My way of managing it is to try to get present, and remind myself I can't control the future, only this moment. I've practiced mindfulness for years, and that helps me to reset and be in the moment, whatever it is. I've started planning a business that I could run from home, so that helps mitigate some of the worry about the future, too. I also use cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps me see some of my tendancies (especially catastrophizing!) and help me step back from them.
- Emma
@ThisIs543
Emma it sounds like you have a pretty good outlook and way of dealing with some of the difficult aspects, that's great!
My chronic back pain is definitely one of the things that caused my depression.
I think pain itself doesn't always affect your mental health (even though it obviously can) but when people are saying that you're just faking the pain and it's not real, that's what can make you feel bad.
@TessaJH Yes, it's not always the health issue itself, but dealing with others that's the part that's harder to cope with.
I find my incontinence can really affect my confidence, especially in public. There are lots of things to help but I still find myself being anxious over whether something bad will happen or someone will judge me for it. It's almost like not being able to trust yourself sometimes, which can be a little depressing too. However, with every situation that goes well, it helps me in the next one to convince myself nothing bad will happen.
To help with the anxiety, I like to stick with my friend so that I'm not going into a new situation alone. Also, focusing on other things to distract myself like doing what I intended to do in the first place 
@Harieo
@Harieo I do wonder sometimes why there is so much stigma around incontinence. I used to shop for my mother's bed pads and Depends, and I'd find myself hoping the clerk wouldn't think it was for me. Eventually I started telling myself it didn't matter if it did. It's a medical condition, and if people judge it because it's related to a bathroom function, that says more about them than you.
-Emma
@ThisIs543 You make a good point. I think there are a lot of stigmas attached to some things that really don't make sense, I think it's just that society has never challenged them so they've become normal. If everyone had your attitude, I think it would reduce stigma a lot 
Wearing protection always makes me anxious that someone is going to notice it but it's good to think, so what if they notice? If they want to judge me negatively for that then they can do that, it doesn't change anything!
I end up being very easily disheartened, i have moments of depression, frustration and anger where i feel i can't be as productive as i want to be. I look back and see what i could do when i was younger and can't understand why i'm no longer able to simply walk to the bus stop or cook a dinner.
I think what has helped me deal with it best is the fact that although i have lost abilities in some ways, i have found new ways to be productive. I can cross stitch while in bed so volunteer for a charity making things for children with disabilities to cheer up their days, i also come on here and get to listen to amazing people and hear inspiring stories of members who are overcoming their challenges and that really helps me see the hope in the world. Playing sims also helps as an escape from my pain.
x
@ElanortheFair I'm glad you're finding ways to occupy your time, doing work for charity is an awesome thing to do!
Don't forget you're one of the amazing people on here too 
