“What are the psychological effects of using a wheelchair? ”
I was in a car accident and had to be in a wheelchair for a while. I feel helpless in a wheelchair. Will seeing a therapist help me?
9 Answers
Kristi Jean Carroll
Counselor/Therapist | Mental Health
Yes, seeing a therapist should help you process your feelings and emotions of your experience. It may help you to focus on the good things about the experience. Positive attitude and thoughts improve mental health, and being able to talk to a therapist will help you sort it all out. Good luck!
There is a good probability you are experiencing PTSD from this debilitating event. I have seen this in my geriatric clients, the lose of abilities and functions we take for granted are slowly or suddenly taken. PTSD is the brains way of having difficulty making sense of things (not a scientific definition, but functional) . Yes, you need a therapist to guide and encourage you to accepting the losses you are experiencing. Also, the Bible says by faith we are healed. We want to think this is a physical healing but more likely, it is a mental, emotional and spiritual healing. So, find an experienced therapist and look up.
Yes! Seeing a therapist can help you adjust the negative ways you are thinking about the changes that have happened to you as a result of the car accident. There are techniques to help enhance adaptive ways to think and feel to overcome the trauma of the accident (which seems to be the source of your helplessness feelings).
Yes, it can.
Darryl G. Carter, Sr., Ed.S., LPC, CPCS, NCC
Darryl G. Carter, Sr., Ed.S., LPC, CPCS, NCC
Hi,
Thank you for your question. Here are some of the psychological effects of being in a wheelchair:
- the process of transitioning into a wheelchair after losing body mobility is similar to grieving someone’s death: feeling loss, shock, denial, anger, helplessness, hopelessness, and depression are all common emotions wheelchair users can experience before reconciling with what happened and accepting their new, altered life. Fully engaging in the grieving process can lead to acceptance. Having a healthy mindset doesn’t mean you have to be happy about the situation; in fact, you may never look at the injury or disability pleasantly, but you should aim to live without judgement, understand it’s not your fault and rather than think about your setbacks, work to identify your progress and strengths.
- having support can be instrumental in gaining self-acceptance. Wheelchair users in need of emotional assistance should consult with a psychologist, counselor, peer mentor or support group to devise strategies to overcome the emotional hardships of being in a wheelchair.
- negative public perception can cause wheelchair users to feel shame; realizing that society unfairly judges people with disabilities is something they work through on their journey to self acceptance. One way to deal with receiving sympathy from onlookers is to understand this as a way humans try to relate to one another and instead of them seeing it as a really tragic thing, it can be seen as just the reality.
- wheelchair users often lead more sedentary lifestyles than able bodies and are at higher risk for certain health problems, such as leg swelling, skin ulcers and pressure sores, poor blood flow, blood clots, and obesity. You should get regular check ups with your doctor to monitor, prevent, and treat such physical issues.
I hope this has been helpful!
Best,
Jenna Torres, PsyD
Thank you for your question. Here are some of the psychological effects of being in a wheelchair:
- the process of transitioning into a wheelchair after losing body mobility is similar to grieving someone’s death: feeling loss, shock, denial, anger, helplessness, hopelessness, and depression are all common emotions wheelchair users can experience before reconciling with what happened and accepting their new, altered life. Fully engaging in the grieving process can lead to acceptance. Having a healthy mindset doesn’t mean you have to be happy about the situation; in fact, you may never look at the injury or disability pleasantly, but you should aim to live without judgement, understand it’s not your fault and rather than think about your setbacks, work to identify your progress and strengths.
- having support can be instrumental in gaining self-acceptance. Wheelchair users in need of emotional assistance should consult with a psychologist, counselor, peer mentor or support group to devise strategies to overcome the emotional hardships of being in a wheelchair.
- negative public perception can cause wheelchair users to feel shame; realizing that society unfairly judges people with disabilities is something they work through on their journey to self acceptance. One way to deal with receiving sympathy from onlookers is to understand this as a way humans try to relate to one another and instead of them seeing it as a really tragic thing, it can be seen as just the reality.
- wheelchair users often lead more sedentary lifestyles than able bodies and are at higher risk for certain health problems, such as leg swelling, skin ulcers and pressure sores, poor blood flow, blood clots, and obesity. You should get regular check ups with your doctor to monitor, prevent, and treat such physical issues.
I hope this has been helpful!
Best,
Jenna Torres, PsyD
Hello and thank you for your question,
Having to use a wheelchair is a significant life change/event. It can be a challenging adjustment and counseling can help you process that adjustment. Discussing how the wheelchair has changed your life and verbalizing the emotions you are experiencing can support a healthy adjustment/transition.
Thank you,
Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC
Having to use a wheelchair is a significant life change/event. It can be a challenging adjustment and counseling can help you process that adjustment. Discussing how the wheelchair has changed your life and verbalizing the emotions you are experiencing can support a healthy adjustment/transition.
Thank you,
Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC
Absolutely. A lot of changes happened for you since the accident and adjustments are never easy. Sometimes when we go through a major life event we forget about the fact that there’s a long list of things in our life that are not broken, that are functioning quite well, and do not need fixing at all. It’s important to maintain a balanced approach and both learn to manage and work through your feelings and changes but also to make room for just as much focus and attention on the things you continue to appreciate; otherwise, you’d be ignoring half the truth and that wouldn’t be fair to you!
I am so sorry about your car accident. Injuries, accidents and/or illnesses can certainly bring on stress and depressive symptoms due to the adjustment, transition, and change the person experiences as a result. I would recommend seeing a therapist to assist you in processing your feelings related to such change, as well as to help reinstall hope through different ways of living.
See these links:
https://www.vantagemobility.com/blog/wheelchair-users-emotion-struggle-relief#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThey%20may%20realize%20they're,%2C%20altered%20life%2C%20Sikora%20says.
or
https://www.resna.org/sites/default/files/conference/2014/Outcomes/Pousada.html
https://www.vantagemobility.com/blog/wheelchair-users-emotion-struggle-relief#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThey%20may%20realize%20they're,%2C%20altered%20life%2C%20Sikora%20says.
or
https://www.resna.org/sites/default/files/conference/2014/Outcomes/Pousada.html
