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Not everyone will have the strength or knowledge to handle a person or persons living with a disability, and that’s not unusual. What is unusual is seeing the disability and not the person you’re truly, madly, and deeply in love with.
In this article, we will be going through tips on how to handle a relationship where your partner is living with a disability, be it temporary or permanent.
What is Disability?
It is the state of being disabled, the absence of either physical, intellectual, or moral power. It could be a medical condition or, in some cases, accidental. Disability cannot be transferred from one person to another, as it is not a disease. It can either be temporary or permanent
Relationship with a Partner Living with Disability
Having a relationship with someone living with a disability is the same as having a relationship with someone living without a disability because it requires the same basic qualities like honesty, transparency, respect, and effective communication.
It can only be challenging if there is no dedication or honesty because in this case, they need extra care so you’re either fully committed or you’re not.
How To Nurture The Relationship
1. Communicate Openly
Every relationship requires effective communication where both partners are free to speak about how they feel, what they need, and what gives them concerns. Encourage open dialogue with your partner. Listen when they talk about something regarding their disability.
Don’t try to act like it isn’t there. Just because you don’t talk about it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Communicating helps to make adjustments where necessary and fosters accommodation.
2. Educate Yourself
Be well informed about your partner’s disability and the challenges they may face along the line. This will help you understand their point of view and also make supporting them a lot easier.
3. Allow Independence
While it’s important to offer assistance and support when needed, do not discourage them when they want to do something on their own. Respect their capabilities and their need for independence when requested of you.
Don’t draw conclusions based on assumptions about how they feel and don’t always feel the need to decide for them.
4. Take Care of Yourself
This might sound weird or out of context, but I assure you that it is not. How effective will your help or support be when you are not in a perfect and healthy state of mind? Ensuring you are at your best physically, emotionally, psychologically, and otherwise will aid your relationship growth.
5. Focus on the Relationship
Instead of focusing on the disability, how about you focus on your partner? The person who makes your heart beat like you ran a marathon is in the same room with you.
Your focus should be on how to swallow them whole, enter into their soul, and sleep there instead of focusing on any physical or cognitive limitations.
6. Seek Professional Help
If you find that it’s getting difficult to cope, don’t struggle. Just reach out to a therapist or a counselor who can provide guidance and show you ways to navigate some strategies that can be very effective in your relationship
You can even join support groups and network with people who support individuals living with disabilities.
7. Be Flexible
You need to understand that there will be days when your plans will have to change or get adjusted due to the needs of your partner. You need to be able to adapt and modify your expectations and routines when needed.
8. Practice Patience and Understanding
You need to understand that living with a disability can be challenging, and your partner may experience various forms of emotion; sometimes they can even throw tantrums. It will only take patience and understanding to cope and empathize with them in these difficult moments.
In Conclusion,
It is important to note that disabilities are sometimes caused by an injury, and it will be ignoble for a relationship to end because of a disability, which is why I’ve put together these guidelines to help you out.
Show your partner that you love him or her not just with words but also with actions by creating a safe environment for love to thrive, just like in any other relationship.
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Want to find out more about love and dating while aging beautifully and gracefully? Read this article about how to find love in old age and the benefits that come with it.
