Coping with CBS

The difficulty living with CBS varies from person to person.  Some can ignore it or even find it entertaining.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, some may be startled, alarmed, or overwhelmed.

Many with CBS are somewhere on a continuum between understanding the cause of CBS and those with a narrative regarding how the manifestations are real.  Many will be able to voice that they know what they are seeing is not real, then will talk about their hallucinatory people as if they had independent lives and intention. 

Making it easier to live with CBS involves controlling beliefs about the manifestations.  One may get help with this from a licensed mental health practitioner, particularly one using cognitive behavior therapy approach. This systematic approach examines faulty thinking about the images, their meaning, and origins.

An important aspect of coping with CBS is to change the balance of power between you and what you are seeing.

·      Take an active role in coping with CBS images.

·      Learn all you can about how persons with vision loss develop CBS.

·      Don’t allow yourself to take the victim role, feeling powerless to deal with the images.

·      Any power the images have over you is what power you give them.

·      Seek family, friends, caregivers, and support groups who take an interest in your experience rather than just dismissing it to mental illness or dementia.

·      Take back your quality of life and relationships from before the onset of CBS.

·      Get services that help you cope with vision loss.

Eventually a person with CBS will have small victories in dealing with the images.  Take credit for making this happen, and don’t judge yourself when the images seem to have the upper hand.  This is a new skill you will develop to make gains towards control of the images.  This will take time, and you don’t have to go it alone.