ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the effect of appearance on emotions and self-perception. It explores how appearance helped with the author's coming to terms with his new self. Even though he had managed to overcome The Bleakness, this did not mean that it was all then smooth sailing. Once he had managed to escape the wheelchair, after a brief moment of euphoria, his resultant indifferent approach to life soon returned. At first, the staff tried to treat him as though he was a baby. Babies did not have to worry about putting food on the table, looking after others or where the clothes on their back came from. Fortunately, being in a private hospital, the author was encouraged to take charge of his dressing as soon as possible. He was encouraged to wear his own clothes and paper pyjamas were to be reverted to only when strictly required, such as during more invasive procedures.
