When losing your sight, it is common to go through a wide range of emotions and feelings. The most important thing to know is that it is ok to be feeling them as they are all part of the adjustment process.
The most common initial reaction is shock. It can be very difficult to take the news. This brings us to the second stage of denial where you might think that the doctor made a mistake or even try to continue your life like nothing has happened.
Another common response to losing your sight is anger. In addition, in these cases, you might even start asking why did this situation even happen. This brings you to the questioning stage. You might need this time in order to question things and how you might be able to get better before you can truly move on.
When you can’t find an answer to your questions, it is common to feel helplessness, fear, and anxiety. Perhaps you are worried about needing to be dependent on other people’s aide. In some cases, these feelings can be so strong that you might even fall back to the stage of denial. The best way to get past this stage is by gaining new skills to build confidence in yourself.
The next common stage when losing your sight is sadness and grief. This can be very difficult for people, especially those who think that they are good at dealing with difficult situations. However, you must understand that by allowing you to go through this stage of sadness, you are actually making it easier for yourself to cope in the future.
While it is normal to deal with sadness, for those who have it more than a few weeks, this might lead to depression. If you can’t get past the stage of sadness and find yourself stuck in depression, it is important to find professional help.
When losing your sight, some people experience visual hallucinations also known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). It is important to know that these are caused by your sight lose and are not due to your mental health.
While you will obviously feel the loss of your old identity when losing your sight, it is important to remember that once you come to be able to cope with it, that you will be able to find new possibilities and a new sense of yourself. The whole process with coming to terms with your sight loss is different for everyone. For some people it might only take a few weeks and for others it might take months. However, with time, you should be able to adjust to your new life.
If you would like to learn more about coming to terms with sight loss, check out the full article.
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