There are as
many different personalities as there are people with dwarfism, and
there is not one psychological profile to fit them all. People react in
different psychological ways.
Stereotypes
in society make us think that success is reserved only for strong,
tall, beautiful people. This is why little people often feel inferior,
and why it is not uncommon for them to be ashamed of their height. They
feel incapable of doing what everyone else can, which sometimes leaves
them depressed or makes them withdraw into themselves.
Other
little people unconsciously revel in their situation and try to take
full advantage of it. They strongly resist change and need excuses to
complain. Their small stature becomes a way to avoid any evaluative or
competitive situation. Serious anxiety can develop as a result.
On the
other hand, some little people may want to get ahead in a number of
areas to compensate for their shortcomings. This is a healthy reaction
because with it comes feelings of value and pride, but this behaviour
should not become obsessive to the point where it is an escape from
reality or detrimental to their health.
Little
people and their families must go through a period where they mourn the
loss of normal height. Let’s remember, however, that dwarfism is rarely
hereditary and occurs as a random anomaly: anyone could
give birth to a child with dwarfism. Whether they
discover their child has dwarfism at birth or after several years,
parents will undoubtedly be shocked by the news. They will go through a
grieving period similar to one following the death of a loved one.*
- Shock,
denial: "There must be an error. My child is going to grow!"
- Anger
towards the situation, guilt: "It's not fair! It's the doctor's fault."
- Looking
for solutions, negotiating with reality, fate, and doctors: "I'll do
what you want, just make my child grow 10 cm taller."
- Distress:
"It's not worth fighting over."
- Acceptance:
"My child's small stature is only one of their characteristics, not who
they really are."
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