Getting Your Life Back After a Catastrophic Injury | After catastrophic injuries, it may seem to some people that they will never get their lives back; however, it is possible for them to put the pieces of their lives back together again. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 61 million adults live with disabling conditions in the U.S. Some of these may result from auto collisions or other such accidents that may cause catastrophic injuries.
Growth After Trauma
Focusing on themselves and their recovery may help people who suffer catastrophic injuries to grow after their trauma. In addition to the physical ailments resulting from their accidents, people may also experience emotional issues. Such issues may block their path toward healing and taking back control of their lives.
Striving for Acceptance
Although possibly easier to say than to do, achieving some level of acceptance of their injuries and the resulting effects may help people to mentally heal. The brain may naturally try to protect people from emotional pain and upset by blocking out upsetting events. However, facing what happened and making peace with their injuries may help prevent any unresolved issues from creating obstacles to healing and moving forward.
Prioritizing Self-Care
Emphasizing self-care may help to work through and overcome the trauma of a catastrophic injury. People may easily fall into neglecting their basic needs when feeling distressed or anxious. However, during difficult times especially, people may benefit from making sure they get enough sleep, eat balanced meals, stay social, and work-appropriate exercise into their routines. Taking care of oneself may aid in their physical and mental recovery.
Getting Help
People may need various types of assistance after suffering catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, and they should not hesitate to ask for it. Such help may come in the form of aid with personal hygiene or household tasks, or it may involve medical treatment like therapy or adaptive devices. Getting the assistance they need with such tasks may keep people from attempting unsafe methods to accomplish them, which may result in further or new injury, as well as death.
Those who suffer catastrophic injuries may also need mental or emotional support and help. Due to their accidents and the resultant injuries, people may have behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Seeking treatment with a mental health professional and leaning on their families and friends for support may help people to deal with these types of issues.
Being Patient
Those who suffer incapacitating injuries may find it helpful to practice patience. Getting back to a sense of normalcy when dealing with a disabling condition will not happen overnight or in the blink of an eye, like their injuries may have come on. They may need physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other such rehabilitation to help them adjust to their injuries and learn adaptive techniques for accomplishing their day-to-day tasks. Anticipating setbacks and struggles may help people deal with them when they come up, so they may move through them and forward with their healing.
Making a Financial Plan
Creating a financial plan for their futures may help those who suffer catastrophic injuries to take back control of their lives. Due to their injuries, people may no longer have the ability to work, or they may have to change to a lower-paying job. At the same time, they may have added life care expenses. Making a money plan may ensure they have the financial support they need moving forward.
As part of their financial plans, people may also consider any modifications they need to make to their vehicles or homes to accommodate their injuries. Budgeting for these changes may help people get the accessibility they need without putting themselves into financial trouble.
