inMotion Magazine

Finding Connections 3 Interaction and communication are vital to your emotional well-being. But for people with limb loss, living with a disability can make you feel like a stranger in a strange land, especially if you are a new amputee. The temptation to shut down can be strong, at the time when communication and support are needed most. Family and friends can make all the difference, but not everyone has that kind of support. And not everyone is equipped to provide the kind of support that an amputee needs. Others may not have a support group in their area or they may be physically or emotionally unable to attend one. They may consider reaching out as a sign of weakness, or they may fear rejection. But a conversation with another amputee can not only ease these fears, it can lead to a wealth of information about living well with limb loss. When you meet with other amputees who are living full and satisfying lives, you’re more likely to believe you can do the same. That’s where we can help. Although peer support is especially critical for new amputees, this is actually only the beginning of a lifelong process, and the Amputee Coalition is there for you every step of the way. The Coalition has trained and certified nearly 1,100 volunteers to provide personalized peer support. With a database of nearly 400 support groups, we can also help you find a local support group, start one, or find other avenues of support. Life is a partnership with others, whether you live with a disability or not. We all want the right to live, love, learn, work and be involved. If you can help others, help. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. It’s a great feeling to assist others, but we all need a little support ourselves sometimes too. It helps to know that these feelings have been experienced by many others, that understanding and constructive support is available, and most importantly, that you are not alone. We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects. ~Herman Melville Editor’s Message FINDING PURPOSE ~ Bill Dupes, Editor-in-Chief Life Is a Partnership With Others