Living with a disability can be quite difficult, as it makes it harder to perform basic duties in life which others around you may find easy to do.
This is even harder for those who were once physically fit and able-bodied, but due to misfortune may have developed a disability.
People with disabilities often lack self-confidence since they are different from everyone else, so if your loved one has a disability, you need to make them feel like they are important and valued.
1. Give them affirmations
Offering emotional support and saying positive things to people with disabilities can really help to boost their self-esteem and confidence.
People living with disabilities often doubt their ability to do things and over time they may develop a negative attitude about themselves and their lack of abilities to perform certain duties. People who have a disability need to be constantly reminded that they just have different abilities to those around them, rather than being unable to do things or lacking certain skills.
Creating affirmations for these people to say over and over again will encourage them to get out there and try things because they will start to believe the words that they are repeating each day.
You also need to reassure them when they do something good, so make sure you congratulate them when they do something that they could not do before.
2. Do things differently
Sometimes people living with disabilities lack confidence because they have convinced themselves they are not useful in society.
This toxic mindset is what makes it hard for anyone with a disability to go out of their way to do something extraordinary or something they are not used to. As a caregiver, friend or relative, you have a big role in helping them gain confidence by getting out of your comfort zone.
Challenge them to try something new or out of the ordinary by getting them to do things that they find difficult or have a hard time doing. Doing this shows them how possible it is to do things that seem challenging.
It does not have to be a huge change to something they are used to doing, but small attempts of doing something new every day can really help them to gain confidence over time.
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3. Get some support
Taking care of or helping someone with a disability can be hard, so you may need some outside help to support you.
When you are looking after someone with a disability, it is important to not neglect your own needs for theirs, so getting an additional carer to help you may be beneficial.
Organizations like Home Care Heroes are great for people who are looking after someone with a disability because it allows you to hire a support worker to help you out when you need someone else. People with disabilities should also meet and interact with new people in a safe and controlled environment to make them feel accepted.
A lot of disabled people tend to feel very isolated from the rest of their community, because they may find it hard to meet new people.
However, once people with disabilities grow emotionally and gain confidence around others they can feel more confident around new people, even if they don’t know them very well.
4. Show them you need them
Many people who have a disability have low self-esteem which can cause them to lack confidence in themselves.
They may not feel accepted or that they belong with other people, so it is important for their loved ones to help them through these feelings and doubts. Sometimes, it is hard for people who live with a disability to be so dependent on their loved ones to help them get through the day.
But as a carer, you can show them that you need them just as much as they need you so that they don’t feel so bad. Giving people with a disability a sense of purpose by showing them you need them is a great way to boost their confidence, and it will make them feel like a more valued member of the community.
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5. Just listen
There are a lot of times where disabled people feel as though they do not have a voice or place in society to speak and be heard, which can be very disheartening.
However, as a carer for a disabled person, it is your job to listen to them and make sure that their voice is heard. Take the time to listen to them speak every now and then, rather than talking at them and telling them what to do.
Communication with your loved one is key in this kind of relationship because you both need to be open and honest with each other as much as you can be. Sometimes, it is hard for people with a disability to communicate or express themselves, so you need to learn how to communicate with them.
Whether this means learning sign language, learning about patterns in their speech or developing your own form of communication, showing your loved one that you can listen to them will help them to feel more confident in themselves.
It can be hard for people living with a disability to integrate themselves in normal society, because they may often feel like they do not belong and are not listened to.
However, if you do everything that you can to build them up and listen to what they have to say, you will notice that they will have a lot more confidence and higher self-esteem.
The key is to figure out what makes your loved one with a disability feel good about themselves and then go from there so that you are doing the right thing by them as much as you possibly can.
About The Author:
Jessica Davies is a content writer who loves to write pieces on a range of topics. In her spare time, she is a prolific reader and enjoys writing about her many travels.
