A serious accident is often a life-changing event, and it brings with it many challenges, physical and psychological, that the injured person must overcome to move forward. Life after a spinal cord injury requires embracing those challenges and learning strategies to overcome them. Here is a closer look at what that entails.
Recovery Starts with the Right Professional Help
Recovering after a catastrophic injury requires the help of several professionals. Injured individuals need a team that includes surgeons, physical therapists, psychologists, and counselors to help them with all aspects of recovery. They may also need an attorney to discuss the legal ramifications of their injury if the injury was from someone else’s fault.
Accepting the Change Is Vital
Before someone can move forward with life after an injury, he or she must accept the changes that the injury created. Serious injuries can leave an individual with a disabling condition, and his or her acceptance of that condition is a key to bouncing back. Understanding that some aspects of life have changed, accepting that fact, and moving on is important to protecting mental health.
Recovery May Require Adapting a Lifestyle
Catastrophic injuries can leave someone needing support and help he or she didn’t need before an accident.
Adjusting to these lifestyle changes is part of the challenge of bouncing back. Families can give themselves time to make this adjustment and move forward with life after the injury. Getting support at home, such as getting someone to help take care of personal care needs, can make it easier for victims to adapt to these lifestyle changes.
Sometimes the adaptations are less intense. For example, someone who has a brain injury may have trouble remembering things. Using a smartphone or app to set reminders can help him or her overcome this challenge.
After an Injury, Individuals Must Learn Their Limits
People recovering from an injury need to push themselves to achieve better results in the recovery process, but only within reason. They also need to know their limits. Pushing too hard and too fast can lead to further injury or setbacks. Bouncing back after a serious injury requires a marathon approach, not a sprint.
Protecting Mental Health Is Important
Catastrophic injuries and life-altering disabilities can hurt an individual’s mental health. Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems after these types of accidents. Seeking professional help through a counselor or therapist or taking medication for anxiety or depression are all important components of recovery. When the person’s mental health is in a good place, he or she is more likely to focus on recovery efforts and less on the damage he or she has suffered.
Bouncing back after a serious injury is possible. It takes dedication and the support of people around the injured person. It also requires realistic expectations. However, with the right mindset and support, it is possible to move forward after a serious accident or injury.
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