emotional impact of a car accident

Managing the Physical and Emotional Impact of a Personal Injury

Suffering a personal injury can be a life altering event. The financial costs of a moderate to severe injury can be staggering, with medical bills that pile up quickly and the prospect of being out of work for an extended period of time.

The financial impact of the injury is only part of the story, however, and really not even the most important part. What is much more important is the physical and emotional toll that the injury takes on the individual, which extends to the entire household.

The pain of an injury can go on for what seems like an eternity. Imagine waking up every day for weeks or months having trouble getting out of bed, trouble moving around, and not knowing how bad the pain is going to be from one day to the next.

Related to this is the stress and anxiety that the injury causes. Injury victims typically spend many sleepless nights worrying about when they will be able to return to work and how they will be able to provide for their family in the meantime. And what if they can’t go back to work at all? What happens then?

Ways to Manage the Physical and Emotional Effects of a Personal Injury

Dealing with the physical and emotional effects of an injury can be a major struggle, but there are some ways that you can better cope with these issues:

Dealing with Loss of Independence

One of the struggles that many accident victims face is the short-term or long-term loss of independence. Even if your injuries are minor, you’ll likely need help from family members or loved ones as you recover. For those who suffer more serious injuries, long-term assistance may be required. This allows accident victims to focus on rehabilitation and healing. For many, this is not just a physical challenge, but a mental one as well. Suddenly being dependent on caretakers may make you feel helpless or even angry, so don’t try to ignore these feelings.

Pain Management

Pain management is another crucial part of your physical healing after an injury. Treating pain as it occurs can leave you consistently on edge, waiting for relief and worrying that your pain is about to get worse. That’s why it’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. They may recommend that you take your medication at regular intervals to stave off pain and give your body the rest it needs to heal. Additionally, keeping your pain levels low can actually help you perform better during physical and occupational therapy.

Rehabilitation

Don’t be afraid to get the therapy you need to get back to normal after a personal injury. This often includes both physical and occupational therapy, depending on the severity of your injuries. Victims may put off both of these options because of the cost associated with them, but getting therapy is one of the most reliable ways to heal quickly and fully after an accident. If cost is a concern, you should realize that his cost should be reimbursed by the party responsible for your injury. Your attorney will help see to it that this happens.

Emotional Challenges

On top of the physical difficulties of a personal injury, you may also have emotional challenges to address as well. Don’t ignore these issues or downplay them. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health after a personal injury, and it’s likely that you have some trauma to work through because of your accident. Of course, you may find it helpful to open up to friends and family members while recovering from your injury. On top of that, however, you may also want to seek professional assistance.

Be Open with Your Family

Some people who suffer a personal injury have a hard time talking about it with others in their household. They might not want to burden their spouse too much, and they don’t want their kids to worry about them. While this way of thinking understandable, it is probably not the best approach.

When your family is kept in the dark, they can become even more stressed because they feel like they don’t know what’s going on or how they can help. It is better to be open with them and let them know what is happening, what you are struggling with, and what your recovery plan is. When your family is better informed, it will help set proper expectations and provide a good source of support and encouragement as you work to get healthy again.

Lean on Your Friends and Relatives

In addition to your immediate family, your trusted friends and relatives can be another good resource for you. Oftentimes, they will be there to talk about issues you are dealing with and be willing to assist you with tasks that you have a hard time doing yourself.

Follow your Doctor’s Recommendations

It is very important to heed the advice of your doctor and other health professionals during the recovery process. Be sure to keep all of your appointments and follow through on the recommended treatments. This includes doing the exercises that are prescribed by your physical therapist, even on days when you don’t feel like it. There might also be some dietary changes that you should make, so do not ignore these recommendations either.

Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out for counseling and other types of mental health therapy. Many people struggle with the psychological aspects of a personal injury, and there is no shame in asking for help with these issues.

Be Good to Yourself

It is human nature for someone who gets injured to try to blame themselves for what happened. It is not uncommon to replay the events in your head and think about what you could have done differently to prevent the injury from happening. Try to spend as little time as possible thinking about past events that you cannot change. The past is the past, and if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, there is no sense blaming yourself for it. Be good to yourself; and focus your energies on what you can do going forward to get recovered.

Let an Experienced Attorney Handle Your Legal Claim

If you suffered an injury that someone else was responsible for, you deserve to be fully compensated. But pursuing an injury claim can be very stressful if you try to handle it all yourself, especially when you should be focused on your recovery. Insurance companies will not make it any easier as their goal is to minimize the amount of compensation that they give you. At this critical time, it is best to have your claim handled by a skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer.

Let Hedge Copeland Assist You with Your Personal Injury Claim

If you are someone close to you suffered a personal injury in Alabama, Hedge Copeland is here to help. For a free consultation and case assessment with one of our attorneys, message us online or call our office today at (251) 432-8844.