"You can't do this alone"
Sharon shares with us how she worked through the isolation and found people just like her to get the support she needed.
Insights and Sound Bites
You Can’t Do This Alone
Presented by Douglas Walker
Douglas: Hello, and welcome to the Insights and Sound Bites podcast, where people facing vision loss share insights about what has helped them cope and adjust.
Voice 1: You cannot do this alone. You need people who are experiencing the same thing.
Voice 2: Probably the hardest part was just navigating through the emotions of it.
Douglas Walker: My name is Douglas Walker. When you’re diagnosed with a vision loss you can feel so alone. Today we’ll hear from Sharon. Sharon will share with us how she worked through the isolation and found people just like her to get the support she needed.
Sharon: When you first get that diagnosis and have no symptoms, you don't really understand what the possibilities are. I'm relying on a doctor to tell me the possibilities or to direct me in a direction of what could this journey look like. And I never found that.
There's a linear process and I most likely will lose more vision along the way. And one day I'll wake up and maybe I won't see as well. You know, every day was a different journey. It was a journey. It's terrifying. Unless you’re with people who are experiencing the same thing and can give support, it's a very lonely thing.
I'm adjusting it, but I'm much more stable now than I have been ever. I'm less fearful about the future. I know the vision may deteriorate further, but I feel I have the skills now and the support now with all of the services, yours included, to navigate.
The most important thing is you need a support group. You cannot do this alone. You may need more than your family. You need people who are experiencing the same thing.
Douglas Walker: Was there something that someone said to you or something someone did for you early on that made all the difference in the world in helping you to adjust to living with vision loss?
We’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to share with us, just leave us a message on our Insights and Sound Bites podcast voicemail by calling 847-512-4867. Or you can use your smartphone or computer and email us a recording to [email protected]. Again, my name is Douglas Walker, take care and see you next time.
All Episodes
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Episode 58
Marie grieved the loss of her vision, and still does. Yet, on a sunny August morning, she came to a realization that made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 57
Terry's doctor told him, "There's nothing more we can do. You'll never drive again," and he was distraught. Then he recalled his military days as a Marine and sailor, and that got him through.
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Episode 56
When Emma lost her sight in just a few months, she struggled to cope. She felt alone, her insecurities grew, and self-esteem plummeted. With time, she came to a new understanding and that helped her tremendously.
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Episode 55
Dave calls his experience with vision loss a slow torture. In the face of this, however, he has found a sense of inspiration in explorers, history, and an activity you wouldn't typically connect with vision loss, sightseeing.
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Episode 54
When Albert's vision decreased to the point that he could no longer read print anymore, he found it stressful. But he's found a new source of comfort that helps him quite a bit.
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Episode 53
Jayne can feel isolated living with her eye disease, spending much of her days forcing herself to focus on things that have become blurry. The stress can be overwhelming, causing her to shut down. But there's one area of life that now brings her more joy than ever before.
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Episode 52
When Jeffry lost his sight, he felt a loss of control, a loss of dignity. Then, he began his long road to empowerment, one small goal at a time.
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Episode 51
Marilyn went through bouts of anxiety and depression with her vision loss and still grieves the loss several years into her journey. She also decided to do something for herself which has helped tremendously.
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Episode 50
Learning to live with vision loss wasn't always easy for Pam. But with time, her bad days are fewer.
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Episode 49
Jennifer didn't know what to do or who to go to for help as her vision was fading. Then, by chance, she found some help. She found some direction.
The book referenced in this episode is "Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight"
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Episode 48
When Carmel heard a Hadley podcast, it helped her understand what had been happening to her along with her vision loss—something she had nicknamed her "phantom vision."
Carmel mentions an episode of our sister podcast, Hadley Presents. Here's a link to that episode on Vision Loss and Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
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Episode 47
It was tough for Linda to give up driving and she was heartbroken when reading became difficult. She felt her world was shrinking. But then she asked for help.