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Mental Health and Self Care Resources

From the World Health Organization:

Impacts of vision impairment

Personal impact

Young children with early onset severe vision impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social and cognitive development, with lifelong consequences. School-age children with vision impairment can also experience lower levels of educational achievement.

Vision impairment severely impacts quality of life among adult populations. Adults with vision impairment often have lower rates of workforce participation and productivity and higher rates of depression and anxiety. In the case of older adults, vision impairment can contribute to social isolation, difficulty walking, a higher risk of falls and fractures, and a greater likelihood of early entry into nursing or care homes.

Economic impact

Vision impairment poses an enormous global financial burden. For example, the annual global costs of productivity losses associated with vision impairment from uncorrected myopia and presbyopia alone were estimated to be US$ 244 billion and US$ 25.4 billion, respectively. 

Mental Health is so important, but it is usually the last thing we think about.  There are many different ways to help with your state of mind, but this is definitely an area that one size does not fit all.  



Simple Activities

  • go for a walk
  • listen to music - to pick you up or calm you down
  • talk with a friend
  • color, paint, draw - shown to be relaxing

Apps and Online Programs

Calm

Is a website and app that provides many great free resources as well as a premium service.  They cover a broad range of mental health areas and have an nice selection of calming music, stories, and sounds, as well.

https://www.calm.com/

Dare

Is a program that provides many different tools to help overcome anxiety. It can be used as an app on your Android or iPhone.  I read their book and it really helped me understand what a panic attack physically does in your body and how to deal with them. 

There are many free options to use, but they also have a premium service which I have not used.


Hadley

Has some videos, workshops, and podcases on coping with vision loss and your mental health.

https://hadley.edu/

Mental Health Professionals

Mental Therapy is Just as Important as Physical Therapy!

Therapy is a great way to help you work through your difficult times.  Until I began seeing a therapist for other reasons, I didn't realize how much the vision loss played into my overall mental health. 

The list below provides a few ways to find a professional near you.  I will warn you, it might not be easy.  If you have insurance, it is important to make sure the professional is included in your plan.  In some cases, I found that different providers in the same practice were and were not covered.   I recommend asking those close to you for personal recommendations. 

Don't give up!  It may take time to find someone you feel comfortable with.  If it's not working for you, look for someone else.  

  • Your friends and family
  • Your primary care physician
  • Your insurance company will give you names of in and out-of-network providers 
  • Your local mental health agency 
  • Psychology Today - listings of professionals by zip code
  • Betterhelp.com - 100 % online help.   Offers different plans.  (I have not used this service nor am I being paid to list them.  I am just listing as a possible resource.  Please do your own homework.)



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