Life has many ups and downs, and each low comes with its own set of difficulties. One of the hardest moments you may endure is a serious injury to the body or brain. Aside from the excruciating pain that you suffer because of the injury itself, there are also mental, emotional, and financial barriers to overcome, as well.
Each body and mind is unique to the individual, so there is no one, single route to get back to wellness. Everyone’s journey will be different, just like the circumstances surrounding their injuries are different.
While there is no one-way-fits-all, 12-step program for recovering from a serious or life-altering injury, there are some tips that can help everyone. Here are a few to help you bounce back after a serious injury.
Recovering financially
A harsh reality associated with serious, debilitating injuries is the financial hardships that can result from them. A bad enough injury can leave you unable to do physical work for days, weeks, months, or even permanently.
Even though you may have to put work on hold for a while, you, unfortunately, don’t have the luxury of doing that with your bills. Lenders and health care providers want their money, and they can be as unrelenting as the Vancouver rain.
If your injury is the result of someone else’s neglect or malfeasance, then you need to contact a personal injury lawyer. They can make sure that the party who is responsible for your injury covers the mountain of medical bills that they’ve caused you. Furthermore, they will seek damages for your pain and suffering and the time that you have to miss from work.
If you’ve been terminally injured, then you need to get started on filing for disability. Getting disability benefits can be a lengthy process, and the longer you put it off, the longer you’ll be waiting for your benefits.
Recovering mentally
The mind tends to react to pain with anguish. Depending on the severity of your injury, you could have a long time to stew in your anger. You can become saddled by self-esteem issues and depression when your injuries are debilitating. With that being said, after a serious injury, you need to be intentional about recovering mentally as you recover physically.
You may feel rushed to get back to being active and productive, but when you’re injured, rest is an activity in itself. You’re not being lazy — you are healing, and you need to be serious about allowing your body the opportunity to mend itself.
Meditation practice can be a way to help you find your sense of calm and resilience as you battle to get back to being healthy and happy. Some people have even reported that meditation has been good for their physical healing, as well. Your mind and body work together, so the better off your mind is, the better your recovery process will go.
Cling to your family and friends as you go through your recuperation process. They will appreciate the trust that you endow them with and will reciprocate it with love and support. The bonds that you strengthen during your injury could turn out to be your silver lining.
Recovering physically
If you end up having to go through physical therapy as part of your recuperation, take time to appreciate that process. It is an opportunity to get to know your body better than ever and come to terms with your body’s new limits — if there are any.
Even though you will have a physical therapist or one of our Scottsdale chiropractors who will help you to regain your mobility, you have to do your part at home, as well. Set realistic goals for yourself with milestones that will help you to track the progress that you make in terms of regaining your strength and mobility. It won’t be easy, but you can keep yourself motivated through your workouts by remembering that you’re competing against your injury.
