When you get hurt and have no choice but to rest for a while, it can take a toll on your mental health. Physical injury shocks the nervous system, and some accidents can leave you feeling stressed and anxious. When you’re used to being active, it doesn’t take long to feel restless and maybe even depressed. However, taking time out to recover doesn’t have to disturb your mental peace.
Here’s how to stay grounded and sane while you recover from an injury.
Alleviate your financial stress
If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, seeking legal compensation can help you regain peace of mind. If you’re accumulating medical bills, lost wages, or unpaid household bills, it’s likely contributing to your stress. By pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you can potentially recover more than enough money to handle your expenses. Alleviating your financial burdens will allow you to focus on healing and not stress about money.
Not pursuing compensation through the courts will keep you stressing over how you’re going to pay your bills. It takes a bit of time to get through a lawsuit and finally receive your checks, but being stress-free is worth the time and effort.
Acknowledge the emotional impact of your injuries
It’s important to acknowledge how you feel about your injury, whether you feel frustration, anxiety, or depression. Your feelings need to be addressed so they don’t get buried. If you have understanding friends and family, it can help to talk to them about what you’re going through.
Or you can talk to a professional counselor and get some effective coping strategies tailored to your needs. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety and depression after a traumatic brain injury.
Learn to enjoy your downtime
Life is busy, chaotic, and messy. If you’ve got downtime, enjoy it while you can. Most people don’t bother taking time to rest and relax, especially since society can make you feel like you’re being lazy anytime you need time away. Don’t give in to this mindset. Take full advantage of the downtime while you heal.
Prioritize sleep
Good sleep will make a significant difference on your healing journey – it’s the foundation of physical and mental health. Disrupted or irregular sleep patterns can increase stress, make you irritable, and slow physical recovery.
Establish a regular sleep routine that has you in bed and asleep before midnight if possible. If you struggle to fall asleep, turn your bedroom into a restful, peaceful place free from distractions like pets, noise, light, and your cell phone. Avoid using devices with screens for at least two hours before bedtime to eliminate exposure to blue light. Your pineal gland secretes melatonin to signal to your body that it’s time to sleep, but blue light suppresses this secretion and keeps you awake.
If you find it hard to fall asleep because you’re not able to exert yourself physically to the point of exhaustion, try mental stimulation, like reading a book (not on a device) or engaging in a simple hobby. You might be surprised to see how much energy it takes to read a physical book compared to staring at a screen. A lot of people read books to fall asleep for this reason – it works.
Communicate with providers and creditors
Whether it’s a medical establishment, a credit card company, or a utility company, communicate with your creditors and service providers to let them know about your situation. Ask if they’ll lower your monthly payments or pause your payments for a month or two. Some companies are willing to work with people and defer payments without interest.
Do what makes you happy
Most importantly, if you’re stuck recovering at home, do things that make you happy. It can be a great distraction from pain and stress. If you have physical limitations, you can find something to enjoy, even if it’s a new hobby.
Ask for help
If you’re the one other people usually depend on, it’s your turn to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support and allow others to help you when they offer. Accepting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If anyone in your life drains you or dismisses your needs, limit your interactions with those individuals.
Rest and relax
An injury will shake up your life and cause you pain, but it doesn’t have to disrupt your mind. The path to recovery may be long, but you have the power to maintain a healthy mindset along the way. Sleep well, reach out for help when needed, and stay grounded.
Recovery involves reclaiming your peace along with your strength.