The Connection Between Disability and Mental Health

For those living with a disability, it can be easy to focus so intensively on your physical heath that other considerations may fall to the wayside. The unfortunate reality, however, is that persons with disabilities are also at significant risk of developing mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But no matter the type or severity of your condition, it is possible to cultivate a happy, peaceful, well-adjusted life. It all begins with understanding the truth about mental health and disability.

Physiological Factors

Unfortunately, if you are living with a disability, then pain may be part of your daily life. But one of the most significant paradoxes of living with a disability, perhaps, is that, though understanding and treating your illness or injury may be top-of-mind for you and your healthcare team, there may be relatively little attention given to the toll that chronic pain is taking on your mental health.

This is an oversight that can have devastating consequences for your psychological well-being. A substantial body of research demonstrates, for instance, that chronic pain contributes to the development of a range of mental illnesses.

When your body is in chronic pain, for example, it produces important changes both in the structure and the functioning of the brain. Among these changes is the triggering of the brain’s stress responses, which can leave you consistently anxious, overwhelmed, irritable, unable to concentrate, and prone to panic attacks.

But the connection between chronic pain and poor mental health doesn’t end there. When you are always hurting, it’s pretty much inevitable that you’re not sleeping, or that your sleep is not of the quality you need to be healthy, rested, and well. And the exhaustion of sleep deprivation, combined with the exhaustion of both stress and pain, means that you’re likely not only to develop anxiety but also to develop depression.

Social and Emotional Factors

In addition to the biological elements of disability that can contribute to mental illness, living with a chronic illness or injury also brings with it a host of social and emotional factors that may be detrimental to mental health. For example, unemployment has long been a significant challenge for those with disabilities. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has likely compelled those with pre-existing conditions and other vulnerabilities to leave the workplace, chronic unemployment for those with long-term disabilities has surged,

Whether related to the pandemic or not, the psychological effects of long-term unemployment can be severe. For many of us, work is not only tied to our sense of identity and purpose, but it is also the place where we forge our strongest sense of connection and community. And without these emotional supports, it’s easy to feel lonely and isolated, which are prime conditions for the development of depression and anxiety.

But long-term unemployment doesn’t just affect your emotional health, it can also have a deleterious effect on your financial well-being. Persons with disabilities may find themselves surviving on Medicare or Medicaid, which, for most households, does not leave much for discretionary spending or for building a financial nest egg. And, once again, the stage is set for mental distress.

What Is to Be Done?

As profound as the impact of disability on mental health may be, it is more than possible to build a fulfilling, joyous, and serene life regardless of your condition. One of the most important ways to begin is by capitalizing on the available support.

To be sure, not every professional will be able to meet all your needs. When you find the right ones, you can build a powerful multi-disciplinary team to help you build the life you want and deserve. For instance, a licensed social worker or therapist can offer mental health support, such as talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

On the other hand, a social worker can help connect you with the resources you may need to live your life as you desire, including accessing housing support, vocational training, and employment services.

The Takeaway

Living with a disability is not always easy, but mental health considerations often take a backseat to your physical care. And that’s a shame because the truth about mental health and disability is that too many people with disabilities are suffering from mental distress and are at risk for developing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. However, with awareness and support, those who are disabled can overcome these challenges to build lives of purpose, security, and contentment.

About Charlie Fletcher

Charlie Fletcher has written 31 posts in this blog.

Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “City of Trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. You can find more of her work by visiting her portfolio at charliefletcher.contently.com.