Hi, my name is John

jcl

I'm 60 years old and wheelchair-bound due to MS. Doesn't help my mental health any! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to feel better with a physical disability?

SueHeath

Good afternoon @jcl welcome to our great group. We have lots of members, all with our own different disabilities.
It sounds like your struggling a bit at the moment, i'm sure one of the scope team will greet you when they see your post, @Alex_Scope @Adrian_Scope @Tori_Scope sorry i can't remember whose on today.

When your ready have a look around the site, categories would be a good one for you to start having a look around.
We have lots going on and i am sure you will be put in the right direction for the help your wanting right now.
Any problems just ask please, some one is bound to be on line. 
Found @Adrian_Scope was on today x

chiarieds

Hi @jcl - & welcome to the community. I think often when you have physical problems it can affect your mental health. Altho the following is about trying to manage chronic pain, which may be something you suffer with due to your MS, I do think it addresses looking at both physical & mental health issues, so you may find it helpful: http://resources.livewellwithpain.co.uk/ten-footsteps/well-done/

It has been put together by Drs.

durhamjaide2001

Welcome to the community @jcl. How do you know who's on @SueHeath?,

SueHeath

durhamjaide2001 said:

Welcome to the community @jcl. How do you know who's on @SueHeath?,

Hi durhamjaide to see who's on out of admin i just see who's joined in on any of our chats or games x

janer1967

If you scroll to bottom of screen it shows you who is signed in that category but it isn't always correct for example I stay signed in all time but not always active 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @jcl

Welcome to the community! How are you today?

Disability is a personal thing and I think, you'll take your own pace with coming to terms with your physical health and your mental health as part of that too.

I can only share my own story in the hopes it will help. I was house bound by Inflammatory Bowel Disease and for three years I was miserable, my mental health took a dark turn and I fought to have stoma surgery. It was (for me) the only way I could see myself living a full life. Now, I know that it is nothing to having MS, but looking at my body in the mirror, even with choosing this path, was hard. I still have days where I have to remind myself that I did it to have better days. 

With your situation, you have the chair through an illness that you didn't want, but you have the chair. You have a piece of equipment that can give you more independence, that will be your lifeline to meeting friends, family, going shopping, visiting a landmark, whatever you want to do. And of course it is an extra step in your life now, it's an extra thing to consider when planning days out, but it is allowing you to do that,

I think, like most people with a disability, we find it hard to convince ourselves and I always recommend going through your GP or the GOV website for a course of counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. 

And as always, you have us to talk to here