CW: Depression
Lately, cooler weather has meant that I have been experiencing more stiffness in my joints than usual. For many disabled people, weather can impact their symptoms.
For me, one of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy is spasticity. Spasticity is a motor condition characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes with excessive tendon jerks caused by stretch reflex hyperexcitability.
Spasticity makes it difficult to move around in the most ideal weather conditions. I don’t like to spend much time outside when it is cold. The same is true for the summer. Too much time outdoors in extreme temperatures can lead to increased pain. The amount of pain I experience has increased as I’ve gotten older as well.
I also have depression, which sometimes worsens in the fall. Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a severe mood disorder with a high prevalence in all developed countries. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping, loss of interest in activities, and persistent sadness.
For me, getting outside often helps me feel better. Time away from technology also improves my mental health. After a long day of online classes, I am ready to relax and take time away from the internet.
Cerebral Palsy is a disability that requires constant adaption. Life with a disability is difficult. The change in seasons is just one part of life that requires flexibility.
Sources:
Chand, Suma P. Hasan Arif. “Depression.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 18 July 2022.
Francisco, Gerard E., and John R. McGuire. “Poststroke spasticity management.” Stroke 43.11 (2012): 3132-3136.