How to Avoid Outbursts from Disabled Relatives

Individuals with disabilities need routine medical examination to avoid pain-related outbursts.

Families have an advantage to avoiding outbursts from relatives with disabilities, as they can learn and gain a unique understanding of the individual's character. Specifically, family members have the personal relationship necessary to understand the limitations of a relative's disability. Many outbursts by people with disabilities are caused by frustrations erupting from limited communication capacity, pain or other medical complications. Some outbursts can be avoided by simply taking care to not talk about or do things that set off those relatives.

Instructions

1. Identify the relative's disability. Educate yourself on the disability, its limiting effects for the sufferer and tips and strategies on dealing with someone who has it.

2. Keep a journal of the individual's reactions to certain topics, circumstances, medications and people. If you are a source of outburst for the individual, reflect on whether it is something you are doing, something you have done in the past and something you might do again. If an apology can be made, consider making that apology to avoid upsetting the individual. If the individual's disability renders an apology difficult to communicate, deliver your apology in your body language. Submissive postures, peaceful expressions and loving attitudes communicate a lot more than words.

3. Steer clear of topics, discussions and activities that trigger outbursts in your relative.

4. Maintain your relative's medical checkups and physicals. Undiagnosed medical conditions, especially those resulting in pain, can lead to outbursts. The outbursts result from the inability to express the pain or endure it. If your relative has a chronic condition in which pain is part of their disability, outbursts may not be entirely avoidable. However, seeking extended pain management care from an appropriate facility may reduce the incidence of outbursts over time.

References

• The Royal College of Psychiatrists: Depression in People with Learning Disability
• Family Crisis Handbook; Donna Icovino and Lucille Eskrew; July 2009