Vision Loss: Strategies for Living with Hope and Independence - Softcover

Wolfe, Peggy R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0979294533 ISBN 13: 9780979294532

Verlag: PARK PUB CO, 2014

Inhaltsangabe

Filled with compelling ideas and practical tips, the updated third edition of this book&;formerly titled Macular Disease&;broadens its scope to offer a positive, take-charge approach to living with declining sight, regardless of the cause. Featuring photos of special lighting and other aids and insight from the author's own personal experience with impaired vision, this oversized handbook is ideally formatted for readers with vision loss by employing the use of large print on glare-resistant paper. Offering reassurance, hope, and personal insight, this revised edition contains practical tips for performing daily tasks, descriptions of adaptive strategies, and an expanded section on high-tech assistive technologies. With strong endorsements from medical communities, the book includes an invaluable index and resource list for readers.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Peggy R. Wolfe developed her expertise about macular disease while living with her own macular degeneration since 1999. Her history with the disease goes back 50 years when her uncle and later her mother developed macular disease, and she helped them learn to cope. She lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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Vision Loss

Strategies for Living with Hope and Independence

By Peggy R. Wolfe, Marly Cornell, Scott Knutson

Park Publishing, Inc.

Copyright © 2014 Park Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9792945-3-2

Contents

Introduction: Hope and Independence Intertwined, 
1 Nourish the Spirit, 
2 Eye Care, 
3 Lighting for Essential Contrast, 
4 Read to Expand Horizons, 
5 Nurture Your Body, 
6 Develop Your Senses of Touch and Hearing, 
7 Cooking and Eating, 
8 Organize Your Living Space, 
9 Find Hard-to-Spot Things, 
10 Travel and Transportation, 
11 Accept Help, 
12 Discover Vision Rehabilitation, 
13 Embrace Technology, 
14 Research Changes the Future, 
Appendix A Low Vision Stores, 
Appendix B National Information Resources, 
Appendix C Manufacturers of Technology Products, 
About this book's design, 
Acknowledgments, 
About the author, 
Index, 
Order form, 

CHAPTER 1

Nourish the Spirit

* * *

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "SPIRIT"? People think of spirit in many different ways. One definition is "life force." Helpful qualities within that concept include backbone, boldness, character, dauntlessness, energy, enterprise, enthusiasm, grit, guts, heart, humor, morale, motivation, resolve, soul, vitality, warmth, and will. Developing these inner resources will help you sustain a rewarding and independent life full of hope, courage, resilience, and purpose.

Develop positive attitudes and resilience

Consider the following qualities as gifts to help you develop the strong spirit that leads to a positive hopeful outlook: acceptance and patience, powerfulness, enthusiasm and enjoyment, and most important — gratitude. Think of how you can use these qualities to enhance your day- to-day life and develop resilience. I think of resilience as the ability to adjust to the changes and challenges we meet with vision loss by using our inner strength and outer resources.

Acceptance and patience

Realize that life involves change, and living with vision loss will include limitations you didn't expect. You may need to allow yourself to grieve your losses as you move toward acceptance. Understand that you are dealing not only with the loss of vision, but also the loss of what you thought the rest of your life might be like. As with any other grief, you may feel shock or disbelief, or even find yourself in denial that this is happening to you. Anger, fear, and questions of "Why me?" are common reactions. Certain everyday things may take longer to accomplish. You will be able to meet such new challenges more effectively if you can nurture a sense of calm and patience.

MY STORY

Spillovers and Knockovers

As my vision declined, I found it more and more difficult to see the level of coffee in the cup as I was pouring. I had frequent spillovers, which made me frustrated, impatient, and mad at myself. I also knocked over my glass more often, spilling milk all over the table — and sometimes my chair and the floor.

I finally decided to allow myself one spillover or knockover per day. Now I've accepted that I will have these incidents. When I have a day with no such accident, I feel elated at having such a "good" day. When I do spill or knock something over, it's fine with me, because that's my expected allotment for the day. So I don't feel angry or impatient with myself anymore. On the rare occasion that I have two accidents — I just assign one to the next day!

* * *

Powerfulness

Many things in life are, and always have been, beyond our control — from the forces of nature to the behavior of others. Being confronted with some new limitations does not mean you are suddenly less powerful. Know that you still have control over how you live your life. There are still many parts of life that you can control. The most important thing you have a choice about is your attitude. When you are discouraged, counter that feeling with a determination to rule your own life. Since diseases affecting vision often have a slow progression, you may well have years of quite functional, albeit declining, vision. Consider such a diagnosis an "advance notice" — a gift of time to gradually prepare for the day that could come when you might have to rely only on limited peripheral or central vision. This book serves as a guide to things you can do in various areas of your life to bolster your confidence, sense of power, and ability to maintain your independence.

Enthusiasm and enjoyment

Be good to yourself, and do what is most important to you. At first, most people who receive a diagnosis of a vision disease feel confused, frightened, and depressed. I suggest that the first thing to do in that uncertain time is to figure out what things in your life bring you the most contentment and joy. Then immediately make plans to do one of these things as a special treat to yourself. Choose something that fills your heart with great joy. Practical activities required for daily living don't qualify. What you pick need not involve a financial expenditure, but rather the investment and the reward of love and time well spent. Take a walk with a friend in a beautiful park, or visit someone you haven't seen in a long time. Enjoy a museum, or go to a concert, or play with a friend.

You can save most of your ideas for later times, but this first one should be something really special. Then make a decision to find ways to be good to yourself on a continuing basis. Find ways to relax and have fun. If you want to meet people and learn new things, check out activities offered in your local area, such as community and senior centers — sign up for their newsletters and monthly calendars. Local low vision agencies offer classes and group excursions.

Maybe your idea of fun and relaxation is simply a slower pace to your life, so you can savor each day. Keep in touch with friends and relatives, play games on the Internet. Most important, be good to yourself.

Gratitude

Perhaps the most important quality of all is gratitude. Think of things in your life for which you are thankful.

I am thankful for —

* living for seventy years before the diagnosis of early macular disease.

* the gift of time to find ways to remain as independent as possible.

* willingness to ask for help when needed (still hard for me).

* family and friends who graciously help with tasks and transportation.

* injections in my right "good" eye that stopped bleeding.

* continued research into the treatments and cures for eye diseases.

* the inspiring people I've met in my local chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Coping with grief and stress from loss of vision

Emotional reactions upon diagnosis may include a profound sadness. Many people have trouble dealing with anxiety about the future. These are normal and understandable emotions, and allowing yourself to feel them can help you to accept what is happening and then let go of your fears. If vision loss — which perhaps comes on top of other losses — causes you significant depression, it may help you, as it has helped many others, to seek counseling or join a vision loss support group. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you strive for acceptance every new day — it will bring both peace and the will to move forward to your "new normal" life.

Stress is a common reaction to vision...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: PARK PUB CO
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2014
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0979294533
• ISBN 13: 9780979294532
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 3
• Anzahl der Seiten: 262
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar