Everyone deals with stress in their own way, and people with disabilities encounter unique challenges. Due to the varied way stress affects people, the concept of “spoon theory” is often used to shed light on these differences. Spoon theory suggests that people with disabilities have a limited amount of energy (represented by spoons). Since people with disabilities tend to have higher levels of stress caused by the disability itself or the extra challenges faced every day, the way their “spoons” are distributed is different than someone without a disability.
Stress is an inevitable aspect of life that Individuals with disabilities must confront and manage daily. For some it may persist as a nagging thought in the back of their minds, and for others, it may be the dominant force that takes over their life. Despite limited research on the intersection of disabilities and stress, chronic stress can lead to long-term disabilities and mental health complications.
Stress can be categorized into two main groups: stress related to the individual and stress caused by environmental factors. Each of these groups will take up more of an individual’s spoons. For people with disabilities, individual stress looks different if the disability was a result of an accident, illness, or a congenital impairment.
For example, a person whose disability was a result of an accident or illness that happened later in life can feel stress while trying to adjust to new challenges. Individuals born with a congenital disability may minimize the connection between stress and their disability as their disability is a significant aspect of their identity. Since these instances are more inherent, it may not seem like it would take up an individual’s “spoons,” however, it can limit the amount they start off with.
On the other hand, stress can also be influenced by environmental factors like physical space and others’ bias. For people with disabilities, the inability to travel, difficulties experienced while traveling to desired destinations, or uncertainty about the accessibility of buildings they need to visit can lead to frustration and stress. Transportation itself can already take up an individual’s spoons, and the additional stress related to issues with transportation and architecture will take even more.
People with disabilities often face employment-related stress due to factors such as unemployment and/or inadequate accommodation in the workplace. Unfortunately, they frequently encounter obstacles when applying for jobs as employers may underestimate their capabilities or be unwilling to provide necessary accommodations. All this eats into their original pool of spoons.
While we all experience stress at some time in our lives, it is important to acknowledge that people with disabilities are likely to experience different stressors. Spoon theory can help conceptualize the limited amount of energy an individual with a disability has, and how additional stress can adversely affect what they are capable of every day.
Read the entire February 2024 Edition of Inside Equal Access