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6 Ways Going to Therapy Helped Me Cope With My Cerebral Palsy

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About a year ago, I decided to start going to therapy to receive help for my anxiety and depression, due to the fact that I was born with cerebral palsy and have constantly struggled with depression and anxiety my entire life.

Throughout attending therapy, I have learned many ways to help me cope with my cerebral palsy, which has helped me come to terms with my situation.

1. It has allowed me to become unapologetically disabled.

Before going to therapy, I used to apologize daily for making anyone feel like my needs were inconvenient for them, but now I don’t apologize. I express what I need and what I expect, and I feel great about it.

2. It’s OK to cry.

I have struggled with expressing my emotions to the point where I would just keep them all bottled up inside. Going to therapy has shown me it’s OK to cry if you’re feeling overwhelmed by an obstacle that comes your way

3. It’s OK if it takes you a little while longer to overcome an obstacle.

I used to beat myself up every time it would take me a little while longer to overcome an obstacle that I was facing due to my cerebral palsy, but I have learned that it’s OK to take a little while longer to overcoming obstacles. It doesn’t make you any less of a person and it doesn’t mean that you have failed at as a person.

4. Going to therapy has made me more open to having discussions about my mental health

I have had a very difficult time opening up to certain people about my mental health and how I was struggling with it, but going to therapy has made me more comfortable and more open to having open discussions about my struggles with my friends and family.

5. It has made me less stressed when it comes to completing daily tasks. 

I would often become very stressed when it came to doing daily tasks like waking up and starting my day, but since going to therapy I am getting the coping skills I need. My stress levels have gone down a ton and I am much calmer than what I used to be prior to treatment.

6. It has given me the push to be a better advocate for cerebral palsy and mental illness. 

Going to therapy has pushed me to be a better advocate for cerebral palsy and mental illness as I discovered they aren’t as many resources for people with cerebral palsy dealing with mental illness. This has pushed me to advocate for those things not just for myself but for those around me dealing with the same struggle and has ultimately given me a positive outlet.

Going to therapy has changed my life for the better and I’m so glad I decided to do it. It reminds me that regardless of what I’m going through, my story isn’t over yet and I just have to keep moving forward.

Getty image by kali9

Originally published: May 19, 2022
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