When we are in pain from physical difficulties, it is easy to overlook the emotional stress of others’ reactions to us. But emotional stress can be as taxing as physical pain. Here are examples we need to recognize and manage:
- Ingratiating ourselves with others to ensure goodwill
In many situations we are dependent on the goodwill of others to help us. Even when we feel tired, irritable, or in pain, we may feel that we must be pleasant and grateful. In employment contexts, this is called “emotional labor” and it can be very wearing.
- Constant self-advocacy
When others don’t recognize that they have inappropriate expectations regarding distance to be walked or time standing, we have the tension of whether to self-advocate or let it go (i.e., avoid the hassle and accept the pain).
- Resisting guilt tripping
Sometimes others are aware (on some level) that their expectations are inappropriate, but they feel inconvenienced by the need to accommodate. Instead they try to pressure us into poor self-care—e.g., “If you would just walk to the top of the jetway…”
- Insisting on being addressed directly
While remaining independently mobile is important, there are times when we need wheelchair assistance for long distances. All too often others will ask our “pusher” questions that should be addressed directly to us. It can be tiring to have to politely remind someone to talk to us directly.
- Being ignored when asking for help
In order to remain independently mobile, we may sometimes walk further than is comfortable and find ourselves almost unable to move. Particularly if we have walked too far without a visible mobility aid, it can be challenging to convince another to help us.