Coping with the Physical Changes After an Accident

An accident, whether vehicle or personal injury, can have life changing results in a matter of seconds. While some individuals walk away from an accident with nary a scratch, others face mental and physical trauma associated with the injuries they sustained in the accident. When someone has suffered a severe injury, especially one that results in physical changes or disfigurements, he or she may want to strongly consider filing a claim to receive compensation for damages.

Since recovery, adjustment, and healing may be a painful journey, often leading to emotional distress, this difficult transition should also be considered when determining the “worth” of the accident claim. While the road to recovery after an accident may long and arduous, many individuals find success in overcoming a dramatic change. Here are some tips for overcoming and coping with any physical changes after an accident:

Get to Know Your Injury

Whether you’ve received a severe injury to the face, which has left permanent disfiguration, or you received a spinal injury that has left you paralyzed, it may be very hard to accept right away (don’t worry, this is a natural response). While acceptance is an important component to your physical and emotional recovery, you should gather all the information you can about your injury first.

For instance, if your injury is severe it is most likely limiting, particularly right after the accident and while you are in the early days of recovery and healing. If you are facing any type of paralysis, it’s important to ask if there’s any chance of regaining movement in the future. It’s also important to know how your paralysis will affect the rest of your body. Gaining as much knowledge as you can may not help you feel any better right away, but it will help you prepare for your future and force you to be patient with yourself.

Self-Care & Asking for Help

Depending on the severity of your injury, your independence may be put on hold. If you’re used to being independent it may be difficult to ask for help, but your health and recovery should be your number one priority and help may be the best way to achieve the goal. Take pride in any independence that you do have and take care of yourself, whether that means taking short walks, eating healthy, participating in your favorite hobby, or getting proper sleep.

Seek Support

If you find that you’re having a difficult time adjusting and coping to life after your accident, seek support. Whether you talk to friends or loved ones about the accident, talk with a professional, or join a support group for accident survivors, it’s important to talk with others. A support group may be the perfect setting to get advice from others who are struggling like you. You may learn how to cope with the feelings of isolation or social stigmas related to your physical injuries. You may also learn how to accept what happened to you and how to move on and make the most out of life. While many people, who haven’t gone through the same experience as you, may say, “You should just be happy to be alive”, their words may have less meaning than hearing the same thing from someone who has experienced the pain and trauma of an accident first hand.