How To Protect Your Mental Health If You Become Physically Disabled

By Lisa HypoGal | November 20, 2017

How To Protect Your Mental Health If You Become Physically Disabled

This HypoGal Blog post is about how to protect your mental health if you become physically disabled.

Mental health is not an easy topic for most to speak about, including me.

I realize my voice needs to chime about mental health and disability.

Before my diagnosis, with Sheehan’s Syndrome, I suffered from extreme depression.

I would continuously cry for no reason; my body ached, my soul felt wrapped in black darkness, and I felt empty.

I grappled with how to appear mental healthy and not allow my flood of tears pour. I was not successful.

My lake of tears, my depression turned out to be triggered by Sheehan’s Syndrome.

Sheehan’s Syndrome occurs when a woman loses too much blood during or after childbirth. The loss of blood may cause the pituitary gland to die or loss function over time.

The loss of pituitary gland function is what triggered my depression. My body had lost its ability to signal the essential hormones that my body needs to function.

My lack of balanced hormones sent my body into an emotional downward spiral.

As I climbed out the darkness of my world, I realized how a physical disability or disease could affect your mental health.

Before my Sheehan’s Syndrome diagnosis, I would tell doctor after doctor that I am depressed from being sick and my depression is not my illness.

I firmly believe a physical disability or illness can precipitate a person’s mental health.

The American Health Association states that depression occurs in 33 percent of people who experience heart attacks.

Furthermore, in diabetes patients, it is thought that brain chemistry can be altered by from diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy or the lack of blood flow through the brain’s blood vessels may contribute to depression.

The National Institutes of Health reported in a 2011 study found that people who have type 2 diabetes, experience depression symptoms often have higher blood sugar levels.

Besides a life-altering chronic disease, a significant injury can cause depression.

An injury can make a person’s lifestyle change in a second.

As with people with serious illnesses, people with severe diseases may not have the financial, social or medical resources.

There are resources out there to help those with depression.

Many people with depression find that taking medically prescribed antidepressants may help improve their mood and life coping skills.

Antidepressants help the critical brain chemicals such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine work better with the circuitry of the brain.

Some of the most common antidepressants that doctors prescribed include:

Citalopram (Celexa)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

In addition to antidepressants, a doctor may also prescribe an anti-anxiety drug or bipolar disorder medication.

Antidepressants cannot heal chronic illness or an injury.

It is vital that you call your doctor right away if you notice that your mood is getting worse or if you have thoughts of hurting yourself.
Depression and Suicide

Some people who are depressed may think about hurting themselves or committing suicide.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of hurting themselves, then please seek immediate help.

The following resources can help you with your depression:

Call 1−800−273−TALK (8255) to reach a 24−hour crisis center or dial 911
1−800−273−TALK is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that provides free‚ confidential help to people in crisis
Call your mental health provider.
Get help from your primary doctor or another healthcare provider.
Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
Contact a spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.
National agencies and professional organizations have information on finding a mental health professional.