DISABILITY AND GRIEF

Being disabled means that you can not do things that other people do as a normal part of their daily lives. Each time a disabled person has a new thing that they can not do, there is grief, because a disability is a loss.

Lately, I have confirmed that I can not cook a big meal without way too much pain. I actually had known this from when I attempted a three person Christmas dinner. Cooking is an art that can not be properly done while the cook is in pain. Drat!

Every time I have a new thing or confront an old thing that I can not do, I grieve. I can now watch myself go through the five stages of grief. I get angry, I bargain with myself and others, I blame persons and things, I deny that anything is wrong, and finally, one more time, I accept.

I am getting faster at recognizing that I am grieving. I just can not always stop the anger, blame, bargaining, denial, and get right to the acceptance.