| When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis | | | | context of disability is sparse, many |
| in the mid 1980's as a "diagnosis of | | | | thoughtful writers have considered religion |
| exclusion" (see, my illness had been | | | | and spirituality to be crucial factors in |
| mis-diagnosed for about 25 years prior to | | | | adjustment to disability. BUT, we must be |
| this initial "diagnosis") I became VERY angry | | | | careful not to "blame" God, as I did, or to |
| with God. "Why me", I asked. Why did I have | | | | say that my disability is "God's Will, or |
| to be the one you inflicted with this | | | | punishment for something that I did". Saying |
| terrible disease? Why couldn't you let the | | | | these things isn't taking responsibility for |
| Doctors conclusively diagnose the condition? | | | | our lives and figuring out how to live a |
| Why did I have to keep pretending that the | | | | better life by managing symptoms. Instead, |
| Doctors were mistaken, just so that I could | | | | become reconnected with whatever spiritual |
| live my day-to-day life? | | | | process/religion that you find speaks to you, |
| | | | and live in the present with all of the gifts |
| I was asking the wrong question, you see. | | | | that you still have. Being affiliated with a |
| Instead of asking "Why me, God?", I should | | | | specific religion can sometimes help those of |
| have been asking, "Why NOT me, God?" See, I | | | | us with disabilities find comfort in times of |
| was trying to become the "before the | | | | isolation and despair. |
| diagnosis" me, and I just could not do it. | | | | |
| So, I went into denial, and pretended that | | | | While little research has been conducted on |
| nothing was wrong. And, as anyone who is | | | | the influence of organized religion in the |
| disabled, or who is living with a chronic | | | | context of disability, studies on the general |
| condition can tell you, living with a | | | | population have been positive. For example, a |
| disability is hard enough without trying to | | | | 28-year follow-up of thousands of people aged |
| become a pale image of who one might have | | | | 18-65 years found that the individuals who |
| been without the disability, i.e., trying to | | | | attended at least weekly religious services |
| fit into a world designed by and for | | | | had lower rates of depression, smoking, and |
| able-bodied individuals, most of whom are | | | | alcohol use; they also tended to have greater |
| equally dispirited. It took me quite a while | | | | social support. Frequent attendees were more |
| (about 10 years, actually) to come to the | | | | likely to have engaged in other healthy |
| conclusion that I needed to stop being in | | | | behaviors, including physical exercise. The |
| denial; I needed to accept the condition, | | | | effect on survival was good after other |
| learn how to manage symptoms, and get on with | | | | factors were taken into consideration - their |
| a quality life. Indeed, I needed to ask, "Why | | | | risk of death was reduced by 34%. |
| not me God!" For living in denial meant that | | | | |
| the ILLNESS DEFINED ME; I was very unhappy; I | | | | When disability is integrated as another |
| was seperated from my spirituality; I was | | | | dimension of living, spiritual growth can |
| alone; and, I contributed to disruptive | | | | take place. Please reread this red phrase |
| events in my life. | | | | again. It talks about integrating a |
| | | | disability or a chronic condition "as anothe |
| It may sound corney, but I used my illness | | | | dimension of living"! It means, taking back |
| disability experience as an opportunity to | | | | control of your life; actually "living" |
| get in touch with the needs of my "true | | | | again, and managing symptoms as part of every |
| self". That is, I decided to use this | | | | day life! AND, believe me, this is not easy! |
| opportunity to take back control over my | | | | If you have the opportunity to acquire the |
| life; to recommit to my spirituality; to | | | | Disabilitykey Workbook, you will see that I |
| discover and live a quality life; and, to | | | | use my actual condition as an example for |
| keep replenishing my "well" of personal | | | | others to follow. Whenever I have to focus on |
| happiness and satisfaction by reaching out to | | | | my "Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Impairment |
| others in similar situations. I mean, who | | | | Matrix", I get depressed all over again. My |
| better to discuss about living with a chronic | | | | brother felt bad about asking me about his |
| illness than someone who does so on a daily | | | | "condition" because he felt that it was |
| basis, and not just some Researcher? Who | | | | NOTHING compared to what I cope with (more |
| better to create a Workbook (found at to | | | | about his question in further blogs). BUT, I |
| assist others obtain disability insurances to | | | | only concentrate on the symptom process when |
| which they are entitled than someone who used | | | | I need to. Otherwise, I concentrate on |
| the process herself, and not just a | | | | symptom management, and on daily living as |
| theoretical social services person? Who | | | | quality a life as I can. |
| better to create a website and an online blog | | | | |
| where we of similar condition can chat with, | | | | Integrating experiences of disability allows |
| and learn about extending our quality of life | | | | a person with a disability to recognize that |
| than someone practicing each and every day? | | | | suffering and hurtful experiences are |
| | | | universal conditions. It can be a time for |
| Does my spirituality help me in these | | | | you to discover untapped resources; it can be |
| endeavors? You bet it does! Spirituality is a | | | | a time where you decide that you DO HAVE TIME |
| quality that goes beyond involvement in a | | | | TO play with your grandchildren, or read that |
| religious organization. It is a more basic | | | | book you have been putting off, or research |
| construct. The highest level of our | | | | your grandparents as they came to America |
| development is affected by our ability to | | | | long ago. |
| appreciate the sacred in life; to live each | | | | |
| day with purpose, and to find a sense of | | | | Spirituality is a way for people with |
| meaning and purpose for our lives. | | | | disabilities to fulfill their potential and |
| Spirituality invites each of us with | | | | discover the possibilities while learning to |
| disabilities and/or dealing with a chronic | | | | live with and integrate their |
| condition to live fully and in the present - | | | | disability-related limitations and yet expand |
| in REALITY, the here and now. Not in denial, | | | | their boundaries to experience the fullness |
| but in control of our lives, learning about, | | | | of life. |
| managing, and living each day in quality! | | | | |
| | | | As part of my Internet research for this |
| Research suggests that people, and in | | | | blog, I found the following website entitled |
| particular persons with disability, depend on | | | | "Faithability Religion, Spirituality and |
| spirituality and religion as an important, if | | | | Disability Resources". You can subscribe to |
| not primary, method of coping with physical | | | | the site, for free, and receive (I think - I |
| health problems and life stress. Most | | | | haven't gotten anything yet) periodic |
| research, however, has addressed one's | | | | information. The site looked interesting, so |
| involvement in religion rather than | | | | here it is: |
| spirituality. | | | | |
| | | | Once again, your comments, thoughts, and |
| Although research about spirituality in the | | | | ideas on this and other blogs are welcomed! |