The desire to have a healthy and culturally acceptable body is an ongoing motivation and life-long challenge for most people. For some, such as those born with a compromising disability this could, however, be an extreme and possibly painful challenge. Every part of our body has a function and when something is missing or loses functionality, then either other parts of the body have to compensate, or external help will be required. We are fortunate that we live in an age where so much can be done to alleviate our physical problems. For example, the variety of measures available, both medical and motor, to help those with loss of mobility. However, the loss of mobility, as well as the loss of good health, are likely to negatively impact the mental health of the individual, both in the moment and potentially long-term.
There are other forms of loss to one’s physical self which involve different parts of the body, such as the loss of hair, or a loss through surgery. Many of the physical issues mentioned in this piece also involve an individual's self-perception of body image. A person’s body image is intertwined with their sense of personal identity. An alteration to that body image which is perceived as being negative, is likely to affect negatively that person’s sense of personal identity. This loss to personal identity may lead to feelings of grief and stress.
Well-being is further undermined by the fact that all the above conditions involve some degree of pain, both physical and mental, which compound the stress experienced from the actual losses.
Our senses are an important part of our natural ability to manage our environment. The loss of a sense, such as sight or hearing, will obviously have a profound effect on a person’s mental and physical well-being. This is a huge area to explore, but not here as there are many specialists in sensory loss more qualified than I am to discuss this.
Drawing by Charlie Mackesy from https://www.facebook.com/Charliemackesyart
Although physical loss is the focus here, the concurrent mental health issues faced are also significant. Many disturbing emotions can be experienced, such as panic, fear, anxiety, grief (which includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance), loneliness, loss of confidence, low self-esteem, mental numbness, agoraphobia. It is important for somebody suffering from a physical loss, especially a relatively sudden loss, to have regular contact with an understanding person or support group. Without an empathetic person to talk to (e.g. a GP, a close family member, or someone with similar experience), the healing or adjustment process could be delayed. Furthermore, without appropriate support there would be a potential for progression into depression. For a person experiencing loss of an important part of their physical self, re-connecting socially at their own speed in a caring atmosphere, is a positive way to start the journey back towards mental well-being and the management of any physical limitations
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