Getting Motivated to Improve Your Physical & Mental Wellbeing If You Are a Disabled Person 70 | sussexexclusive.com
So just don’t sit there. Start readying your mind and get motivated. And finally, just remember, there is somebody ALWAYS worse off than yourself. Chris Smith (not his real name), a former Paratrooper, was injured during active service and lost his sight in 2001. Battling depression, he took up exercise and, in his words, “discovered a new me”. Still active, he shares his thoughts on how to get started. Motivation can be defined as the force that energises and directs behaviour, but all said and done, if you are disabled, you still have to feel the need to energise yourself to improve your mental and physical abilities and to extend your independence. So basically, it comes down to the fact that you have to be in the right frame of mind to initiate a course of suitable fitness depending on your disability. Consult your doctor This first action is always a priority, and you should consult your doctor to ensure your blood pressure and heart are functioning correctly and within limits and to take advice about what is possible for you. Your physical instructor will need to know your limitations so a programme of fitness can be structured around them, whatever they may be. Additionally, if you are a diabetic, you should make sure your bloods are in the green zone. But the positive aspect of having diabetes is that you can turn the sugar in your blood into energy which will reduce your blood sugar levels and any need for insulin or tablet medication. Although as always, discuss this with your instructor and doctor. Work with a physical instructor A lot of exercises are or should be supported by good breathing and the regulation of your vascular system. Before committing to any exercise regime, you must get a feel for your vital signs and ensure they are all in the green, then your instructor will focus on the most relevant part of your body that needs improving, for example a limbless person might spend time concentrating on upper body strength in order to enable them to manage themselves on and off various platforms. A person who is severely sight impaired has to be managed on and off any exercise equipment and be monitored by instruction or staff while they are exercising. Setting goals When one is physically disabled, or sight impaired it is very difficult to motivate oneself into thinking about trying to get fit or improving one’s overall mobility. Being blind and physically disabled myself through military service, I got to the point where I needed to make certain changes to improve my overall ability and general wellbeing. It was hard enough just thinking about it let alone doing it, but I managed to set myself small objectives and gradually went from strength to strength as I started achieving them. Again, I stress it’s important to take advice from a professional instructor so you can comfortably work within an envelope of your capability, without causing stress or pain to an existing disability (your limitations). But by setting yourself objectives and reaching them, as you progress it’s very satisfying and soon, you start to see the benefits of the exercise that you have undertaken. Getting motivated In the military it was always mind over matter (we don’t mind, and you don’t matter). And this holds firm, as we all know the mind controls the body and it’s important to get that balance right. To generate the right motivation, you have to want to improve your overall wellbeing and mobility and in turn improve your overall confidence and stress levels, making it possible for you to achieve more. But what triggers motivation? A look in the mirror or weighing yourself is a norm for a reasonably healthy person, but if you’re disabled that often doesn’t apply. Your motivation will need to come from your own determination to improve your overall wellbeing and independence, without relying on anybody else for your daily routine unless it’s absolutely necessary. This comes from deep within. But once the mind is switched on it enables you to focus on the programme of fitness that has been designed specifically for your disability, and this will allow you to set your objectives and achieve them. Gradually, and over time, you will be able to extend your objectives as you progress. You will of course, encounter pain and exhaustion to begin with but they say there is no gain without pain. As you find yourself getting more flexible, there are other options you may look at too, like Yoga and Pilates, which involves using muscles that you never knew you had and I have found personally this has worked wonders for me. Working with others You may also find it helpful to join a group which can work quite well and injects fun into the activity. As the saying goes, together, we can do more. So just don’t sit there. Start readying your mind and get motivated. And finally, just remember, there is somebody ALWAYS worse off than yourself. 71