Sustaining an injury can be one of the most traumatic incidents in a person’s life. No matter how big or small, having one can result in a dramatic change in the way you live your life. Not only will the scars be physical, but you may be enduring some difficult emotional troubles if your injury is serious. If you have been out of action for a while, returning to your daily life can be another obstacle you must overcome. Though everything may not be the same as before, there are some small but helpful ways you can get your life back on the track you are happy with.
Ask your friends and family for help
You may be struggling to complete tasks that you would have found a breeze before your accident, and while you are determined to do things by yourself, there is every chance that this isn’t a possibility. In time, you will be able to navigate your life in a similar way to before, but for the short term, you will need help. Knowing that it is normal to rely on a trusted group of friends and family is the first step you can take, and you should remind yourself of this every day. Asking for help will let you ease back into your regular routine, but it will also mean that you have a great support network should you need some emotional support.
Keep your doctor on call
Coming home from a hospital environment will mean that you are stripped of a lot of the resources you will have gotten used to when you had nurses there to help. Though it may be a relief to be home, that isn’t to say you won’t encounter complications after your release from the ward. In the off chance that something in your recovery was to go wrong, it’s wise for you to have the number of your doctor saved in case of an emergency. Also, you should make sure you attend all your aftercare appointments, so they can check your progress is going smoothly. This way, they will be able to suggest helpful tips on getting back on track, but they will also be able to spot any potential problems and stop them before they go any further.
Create a schedule
There is no doubt that certain aspects of your life will seem as though they are spiraling out of control, and you may not know where to start when you return home. To help keep your mind busy, write down a simple schedule that you can stick to. This will help you keep track of your progress, but it will also enable you to figure out where social life, work, and other activities can fit in around your new life. It will also act as a reminder that you are the one in control of your life, and that you have the power to change it if you are not currently happy with it.
Start exercising again
Exercise could well be the last thing on your mind after sustaining your injury, but there are countless studies to show that it can speed up the recovery process as well as improve mental health. The best way to start is by doing gentle exercises like walking. However, there are also specific exercises you can do depending on which injury you have. Your physiotherapist will suggest those that are best for you, but you can also enjoy exercises like Pilates for back pain and yoga for knee injuries. Having a relaxing and meditative form of exercise to rely on will relieve some of the mental and physical pains of your injury and will help your body on the road to recovery.
Get enough sleep
When you have an injury, your body will feel more tired than usual, as it expends energy trying to heal. Unfortunately, it could mean that your energy levels are low and that you are irritable with those around you. The key to this is getting enough rest. If you are out of action for a while, you will have plenty of time to regain your strength by interspersing your exercise with naps. Your injury might be making it more difficult for you to sleep, so make sure you invest in soft, comfortable furnishings and injury-specific tools to aid you in having a better sleep. More sleep means that your body will recover at a faster rate, but if you are spending a lot of time in bed, you might be feeling down. For resting times, make sure you have some activities to enjoy and that you aren’t spending too much time alone.
Seek emotional support
Having a serious injury can result in some difficult emotions that you might have fears over confronting, and it may also leave you with some trauma to deal with. When you are spending days in bed, cut off from the outside world, these feelings can be exacerbated. Try and communicate well to family and friends how you are feeling so that they can give you the appropriate support. For the days when it gets too hard, or when nobody is around to pick you up, you shouldn’t feel ashamed about seeking help from a therapist. It is better to talk through your emotions to save them from haunting you in the future.
Stay positive about the future
Your life may have changed immeasurably since your injury, or there could be elements that you are finding it hard to return to, but this doesn’t mean that your life is over. In fact, it could even open some new doors that you weren’t expecting, like the chance to spend more time with your family, or learning some new life skills. Though it will be impossible to stay positive every day, it will be the driving force behind you getting your life back on track if you can summon some positive energy to help you through the tough times. This will also set you up for any challenges life may throw at you in the years to come.