Healthy Relationships

The relationships we have at home and at work are important to our emotional and physical well-being. When our relationships are healthy, they support us through difficult times, offer social networks, and remind us that we are loved and cared for. When they are not functioning well, however, they cause us stress. And stress can develop into emotional and physical problems.

The onset of vision loss can challenge relationships. The change affects not only the person experiencing vision loss, but friends, family and colleagues as well. Communication and understanding are vital. In the initial stages, as the dynamics within relationships change, it’s important to attend to the needs of everyone involved. Gradually, the focus will shift to dealing with the vision loss itself.

We learn a lot about relationships, both healthy and unhealthy, through our parents. As we grow up, we watch our parents interact with each other in good times and bad. However, blind and vision impaired children who attend residential schools tend to spend less time with their families. As they grow to be adults, they might not have the same range of experiences to draw on.

Relationships take work. To learn more about the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships, about tips for communicating effectively, and the importance of maintaining separate identities within relationships, we encourage you to see the article “Healthy Relationships”.