Addressing The Dynamics Of The Family And Caregivers
The journey up out of a wheelchair can also include the crossing
over of the barriers of long confinement. Viktor Frankl in his book
Man’s Search for Meaning talks about how concentration camp
prisoners for weeks after the flight of their Nazi guards, could
not leave the camp, even though the front gates were open. The world
can be a very frightening place to relearn to navigate if you have
been imprisoned in a wheelchair for years! I refer to this as “institutionalization”;
the effect of being utterly dependent upon others for EVERYTHING
can make anyone become psychologically dependent even if they were
naturally extremely independent prior to the stroke. institutionalization.”
This attitude develops when patients in an institution get accustomed
to the patterns of the place. For instance, the person becomes a
“good patient,” waiting for the care providers to do
everything. Institutionalization often results in a dangerous loss
of motivation. And then there is the future. Facing life again after a disabling stroke is a very scary prospect! As an autistic person, I had to learn step by step how to face life the first time!
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Concept, Design & Hosting By Sebastien Gendry |
Other
issues that I found needed to be addressed include the view that
others close to the client hold the person as a disabled person.
For example, with my work, one of my client’s was able to
get to her feet under her own power, after 3 years of being immobilized
in a wheelchair. We would do 3 sets of 5 “get ups” (get
up from the wheel chair!) each day for 3 days and then her husband
attended a session and she was unable to get to her feet even one
time in his presence! Why? It would seem that their relationship
had become centered around her needs as a disabled person and her
psyche wasn’t ready to shift his relationship without addressing
it in some fashion. Remember I said I was also a life coach? As
a personal trainer it would not be my purview to address such issues
as a couple’s relationship and their vision of each other.
As a life coach, I do.