Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How long does it take to come to terms with being blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by tayceT90
Simply put, how long does it take to get used to being blind?
If I do go blind, can I ever get over the devastation and start feeling a new sense of normal?
If I do go blind, can I ever get over the devastation and start feeling a new sense of normal?
EdmundKirk 3 points 4y ago
Everyone gets used to new circumstances, but there is no set time that it takes someone. It can take one person a few months, another a few years.
modulus 2 points 4y ago
Depends what coming to terms means. I was born blind, and some days I'm full of rage or sadness because of the things I can't do. I'm in my mid 30s and I doubt this will ever change while I'm alive.
That doesn't mean I'm sad or ragey all the time. I have a decent life, a good job situation, and so on. Still there's a lot of little things that I can't do or that are needlessly difficult, and there will always be.
That doesn't mean I'm sad or ragey all the time. I have a decent life, a good job situation, and so on. Still there's a lot of little things that I can't do or that are needlessly difficult, and there will always be.
GinRinoa 1 points 4y ago
It's hard to being blind? You recommend to start learning brille while you can still see, what you need for support from your family
cookieinaloop 2 points 4y ago
Hn, sure. I don't know about suddenly becoming blind but if you, like me, have eyes that die just a bit at a time you adjust to every new loss as it happens (if you don't it may be very very hard to catch up when the losses accumulate).
GinRinoa 2 points 4y ago
Is hard to adjust what I can do to help my mom
cookieinaloop 1 points 4y ago
It is hard, I won't lie to you. Be there when she needs you and listen to her, and don't complain about the changes you'll have to do in your life and your house to accommodate her new neecd so she won't feel like a burden.
GinRinoa 1 points 4y ago
I'm a bit worry about these changes like she would be available to do something like eat or take showers I ask this not cause I don't want to help her but cause I need to know how much she will need me, myself had a psychical disability so I'm a lot of worry cause I don't know what to do
cookieinaloop 1 points 4y ago
If your mom is losing her sight she will face a lot of difficulties, but eating and taking showers should be ok for her to do on her own (maybe she'll have trouble eating in some plates and will have a time dropping food or spilling drinks, but it'll get better with time). The things you'll have to adjust and she'll have to adjust are really personal and you will have to work with her each day, because it depends very much on your specific activities.
Make sure the environment is safe (no glass if it is not necessary, nothing on the edges of tables so it isn't dropped, no sharp edges where she could hit them, stronger lights in the house). More items will be necessary but this is basic.
Make sure the environment is safe (no glass if it is not necessary, nothing on the edges of tables so it isn't dropped, no sharp edges where she could hit them, stronger lights in the house). More items will be necessary but this is basic.
tayceT90 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
What type of eye disease do you have ?
cookieinaloop 1 points 4y ago
Retinitis pigmentosa
tayceT90 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Oh ok! I follow Molly Burke on YouTube. I believe she has the same eye condition and her positivity really helps me!
Can I ask what age were you diagnosed ?
Can I ask what age were you diagnosed ?
cookieinaloop 1 points 4y ago
Sure :) I was diagnosed at 7, with tunnel vision and night blindness. Mine was a rarer case of early childhood onset. It remained stagnant for more than 15 years but now it's coming at me with everything.
What do you have?
What do you have?
cartertemm 2 points 4y ago
Honestly depends on a myriad of factors. Age, mental state at the time, prior exposure to those with profound disabilities, level of involvement in the community and/or social groups, reaction of those around you, etc etc. I've heard of it taking years for some and no more than a month from others.
tayceT90 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Do you have personal experience you can tell me about?
cartertemm 1 points 4y ago
No, fortunately. Been blind all my life but have had the chance to help others out.
tayceT90 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
So you feel like being born blind is better than losing vision later in life ?
cartertemm 1 points 4y ago
that's a difficult question really. On one count it's your life and that's all you know, so nothing to miss. On another you have no idea what your missing. Personally I'd rather start out by having sight.
I've heard of quite a few scenarios where someone suffering from progressive vision loss will go all out sight seeing before they have nothing left.
I've heard of quite a few scenarios where someone suffering from progressive vision loss will go all out sight seeing before they have nothing left.
0neIjim 1 points 4y ago
I lost most of my sight 3 years ago (57 years old at the time). Went to sleep fine and woke up legally blind. I still have some anger over it. My Dr. at the time said it best (at least for me) "This is your new reality. What you do with it and how you cope with it is up to you." I had to learn how to ask for help, and accept it when offered.
WarriorPrincess31 1 points 4y ago
I've been blind all my life, and I'm still coming to terms with it. This question does not have a propper one shot answer. It depends on who you are, how you process things. Being blind isn't the end of the world, but it does suck to know that your siblings will all go on to have jobs and lives of their own while you are stuck doing nothing.
seperath 1 points 4y ago
this is one of those things that I believe is acceptable to never actually "get over"
KillerLag 1 points 4y ago
There any many factors that effect it. State of mind, cause, therapy, etc. In some cases, people get used to some loss of vision, but then they lose more and it starts the cycle over again.
In really bad situations, someone may never come to terms with it. I know someone who lost their vision roughly three decades ago, and is still quite bitter about it. He hasn't left his apartment building in over 5 years.
In really bad situations, someone may never come to terms with it. I know someone who lost their vision roughly three decades ago, and is still quite bitter about it. He hasn't left his apartment building in over 5 years.
tayceT90 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Wow. That’s very depressing. I really hope I could get used to it.
I try to close my eyes for short periods of time and I hate it
I try to close my eyes for short periods of time and I hate it
KillerLag 3 points 4y ago
It's depressing, but it's the truth. sometimes people don't get over certain things, such as the loss of a child or something else. Sometimes it can manifest in other odd ways. When a friend's father passed away, his sister took it really hard. And she ended up getting some hoarder tendencies after that. Mental health issues can be.... rough sometimes.
tayceT90 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
For sure.
Do you have visual impairment ? How do you cope? W
Do you have visual impairment ? How do you cope? W
KillerLag 2 points 4y ago
I don not have a visual impairment, but I've worked with plenty of people who have lost their vision. Everyone copes in their own way, and someone else's path may not be appropriate for you.
Some people find solace with religion, others with family and friends. Others find a goal and work towards that goal. I worked with a young man who had lost his vision when he was shot in the face. When I first saw him, we were just learning how to travel around the block. His goal was to learn to travel well enough to get to university on his own. It took quite a while for training, but I am glad to say he can now use the transit to get to his school.
Some people find solace with religion, others with family and friends. Others find a goal and work towards that goal. I worked with a young man who had lost his vision when he was shot in the face. When I first saw him, we were just learning how to travel around the block. His goal was to learn to travel well enough to get to university on his own. It took quite a while for training, but I am glad to say he can now use the transit to get to his school.
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