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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2020 - 02 - 26 - ID#f9q8gf
7
My friend (still sighted) has glaucoma and has been having suicidal thoughts since getting her diagnosis several years ago. How do i help her? (self.Blind)
submitted by fizzywizzie
For context, we live in a country where psychiatric counseling isn't easily available. I did a cursory search online and did not find any reliable support groups in her location. Are there useful resources for emotional support and things that could help her understand life after sight loss could still be meaningful and fulfilling?
Envrin 7 points 3y ago
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Take her dancing.

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No, I'm not being an arrogant asshole. If she's actually suicidal, then really, take her dancing, or even just get her to break into a dance jih with you privately in your house / apartment. I can only speak for myself, but I'm the least likely person you would see dancing. I'm attractive enough, but I'm some middle aged white dude who writes software code for a living, and is genuinely really shy and introverted.

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However, upon going blind, I danced like a motherfucker for a good 18 months. Didn't matter to me when or where. I'd break out into a small dance jig in the middle of my kitchen while cooking dinner, in the aisle of the grocery store while waiting for my better half, or where ever.

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I don't dance anymore, because well, I'm a middle aged white dude who really sucks at dancing, but also because I don't need to anymore. I'm find with being blind now, but I wasn't then.

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Going blind is really, really, really difficult. Can only speak for myself, but I know breaking out into dance jigs all the time really helped me along upon initially going blind. Even if you're like me and a horrible dancer, it's honestly feels really good, and it helps while you're struggling to get used to the constant darkness. Going to sleep, then waking up every morning and opening your eyes with hopes it was all just a dream and you can see again now, only to find out it's real and you're actually blind is quite difficult. Again, for myself, I found dancing really helped.
fizzywizzie [OP] 1 points 3y ago
thank you so much for this input. i really appreciate it. definitely will keep this in mind as one of the things i could try with her :)
dontwriteonme 1 points 3y ago
THIS! I found that my visual impairment actually made it way more fun to go dancing because I couldn't see anyone around me so the whole "dance like no one's watching" thing really manifested in that situation! I have NEVER felt so confident. Plus at the end of the night all my friends were wasted (I don't drink) and seeing double so I actually ended up being the one to lead the pack, which is hilarious looking back on it.
noaimpara 2 points 3y ago
Sounds lame but the youtube channel Life After Sight loss TV (and the podcast Life After Sight Loss Radio) is really great. I also live in a country with inaccessible mental health support but that community and the videos themselves helped me a lot in my journey. The guy has a lot of very comforting and reassuring videos and is just nice and encouraging in general. Teaches you that life really does go on. He is also super nice and accessibke by email of you have a speccific request or question, he once made an entire video and a podcast to give advice about a problem I emailed him about!
fizzywizzie [OP] 1 points 3y ago
thanks! i've looked into both the YT channel and podcast channel. i like how he's so positive. sadly when i referred them to her, my friend appears to be not quite ready to listen/watch yet. hopefully one day, when some more time has passed, she will be :)
noaimpara 1 points 3y ago
When I was just loosing my sight, I also couldn’t bring myself to watch the more positive, encouraging "life isn’t over" type videos, but the general ones about how to use tech, random household tips and stuff were a soft introduction that still helped emotionally!!
OutWestTexas 1 points 3y ago
I also recommend this channel.
CosmicBunny97 1 points 3y ago
I can understand it would be scary. Look into facebook support groups, maybe that way she won’t feel so alone. Maybe also look into YouTubers like Joy Ross, Molly Burke etc and blind bloggers. They show that blindness isn’t a death sentence and that you can still have a life. Perhaps there’s online counselling services too? As well as services for those with vision loss - I don’t know where you’re from, obviously, but for example we have Vision Australia here in Australia. And of course, reinforce consistent opthmalogist appointments and doing drops/medications.
dontwriteonme 1 points 3y ago
I second all the advice suggesting helping her find a professional. In addition, help her find one of her hobbies that can be adapted! I started losing my eye sight after putting myself through art school for 8 years and then when I finally got a dream-cone-true position of a year long residency and access to a papermaking lab for free my eyesight was so deteriorated that I had to forfeit the position AND quit my career as a sign artist. I was in that dark place for a LONG time. But now I'm using all the scraps from my "messed up" pieces of handmade paper and making collages. I'm not totally sure what they look like or if they are any good but being able to transition my method of making literally saved my life. What are sone of her hobbies, I'm happy to help you brainstorm!

P.s. you friend is SO lucky to have someone like you in their life, tbh I'm a little jellie lol but in a light hearted kind of way
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
and here i am still sighted but its decreasing more an more, my suizid toughts are increasing from week to week..i cant just live on, norhing is enjoyable anymore..nothing
dontwriteonme 1 points 3y ago
Let's talk. I've been there. Dm me!
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 3y ago
It's really difficult to respond to stuff like this as nobody here is trained in counseling, so take this for what it is worth. We are also assuming the sight loss is going to be severe which it may not be. I'm not a doctor but I know there are at least some treatments for glaucoma.

With all that in mind I will say what I have said before and this is not necessarily to be passed on to your friend straight away.

If she has been told that she will lose a lot of sight, and if that actually happens, then it is not going to be a lot of fun. As other people have said, there is no way to sugar coat it, it is horrible, it was horrible for me, it is horrible for everyone.

A lot of the help you'll get will be aimed at encouraging people to somehow become happy with the situation, which I always think is the wrong approach. There can be a certain satisfaction in dealing with it, dealing with it on what I like to think of as a professional level. If I'm going to have to be in this situation I am going to do it at a professional level, and as much as I can I do. You will not find a way to like it and here's the point. You don't have to like it. You do have to find a way to be okay with not liking it. Most people do. It took me literally years, they were not nice years and I cannot sugar coat that.

But in the end it is amazing how okay it can be. If I sound like I'm desperately trying to describe something that's really hard to describe, I am. I wish I could mind meld with your buddy like a vulcan and show her that. But there it is.
fizzywizzie [OP] 1 points 3y ago
>You will not find a way to like it and here's the point. You don't have to like it. You do have to find a way to be okay with not liking it.

I agree with this a lot. for now especially, trying to make my friend happy with her situation is impossible as well as futile. I do appreciate all the youtubers and people who manage to reach a more optimistic mindset. it is certainly a different journey for everyone. i just hope my friend makes it.
Angels_Bazooka 1 points 3y ago
Teletherapy could be a good option, I've met a few psychologists who provide services this way. I'd highly recommend for you and your friend to study counselling skills; I've learned to be a true listener to help myself and others because of that.
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