How are you coping with trauma after your catastrophic injury?

You are on the road to physical recovery after suffering a catastrophic injury in Indiana, but where are you on the road to mental recovery? You must tend to your mental needs alongside your physical needs during this time.  

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America  offers insights into responding to trauma after a life-changing injury. Learn how to take care of your mental health while adjusting to your new life.  

Take a moment to tune into your emotions and thoughts. While recovering, you may experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares about the accident, depression, fearfulness or problems sleeping. It is OK (and expected) that you experience emotional distress after an accident. Pay attention to how your distress affects your daily life. For instance, you may avoid certain activities or places not because of your physical limitations, but because those places or activities act as distressing psychological triggers.  

When you notice yourself feeling anxious, depressed or stressed, make time for self-care. You do not have to go to extreme lengths to provide for yourself. Eating a nutritious meal, getting adequate sleep, engaging in activities you enjoy and listening to music can soothe you more than you realize. If your distress becomes too much to bear alone, consider seeking help from a therapist who works with those involved in catastrophic accidents.  

If you feel mentally or emotionally overwhelmed, concentrate on things within your control. For instance, while you can control the steps you take to recover, you cannot control how quickly your body heals.