The attitudes of the sighted towards the visually impaired, rather than those of the visually impaired toward themselves, is often an important factor in a healthy self- concept. These people are regarded by society as partially sighted sometimes, and at other times blind. These conflicting identities hamper the growth of a healthy self-concept. The partially sighted person requires time to form an adaptive self-concept, and often has trouble doing so. Vision loss will also disrupt established patterns of communication, motility, work, recreation, and other aspects of self awareness.
Typical reactions are first shock, and then depression.
The shock phase usually lasts from two to seven days, with profound feelings of depersonalization, total immobility, and blank facial expressions. This depersonalization is an emerging defense due to the overwhelmingly painful reality of vision loss. Little by little these feelings are confronted which marks the beginning of the second stage. Symptoms of depression gradually emerge and blend with the feelings of depersonalization. Energy is then directed to finding solutions.