If you’re recovering from an injury, you might feel like your mental health has suffered along with your physical health. Recovery is not an easy road, especially if you still have lots of obligations to keep up with. By connecting with the Mental Wellness team at Aptiva Health, you can get the care you need at an affordable cost. Furthermore, here are a few simple ways to keep your stress under control so that you can focus on your recovery.
Healthy Stress Management
Coping with an injury can be stressful. Chances are, you’re not simply relaxing at home while you’re on the mend - you might be trying to work remotely, deal with insurance companies, attend physical therapy appointments, or manage chronic pain. Identifying some healthy stress management strategies is the key to avoiding overwhelm. You may want to try meditating, journaling, or creating gratitude lists.
Furthermore, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to relax and focus on healing, even if you’re working from home. Design a home office space that supports your needs, keep all of your essential work supplies within reach, and even place a bouquet of flowers at your desk to brighten up the space.
Ask for Help
When you’re injured, you simply can’t do everything you used to - and this means being dependent on others for help with certain tasks. Part of you might feel a bit embarrassed about asking for help, but the truth is, everyone needs a hand once in a while. If you live with other people, talk to them about the specific tasks you’ll need assistance with. You can also reach out to local friends and relatives for support.
Low-Energy Hobbies
You may have had to put your favorite hobbies on the back burner because of your injury. To occupy your time, try out a few new activities that don’t drain your energy. Depending on your physical abilities during the recovery process, PouchPASS recommends getting an adult coloring book, experimenting with DIY craft projects, or doing puzzles. This is also a great time to watch some classic movies or read more books!
Find Fun Distractions
You might be spending a lot of time on physical therapy activities to support your healing journey, worrying about your progress, going over healthcare bills, or even going back and forth to doctor’s appointments. Allow yourself to indulge in some fun, mindless distractions. For example, don’t feel guilty if you spend some of your downtime binge-watching silly TV shows - sometimes, you just need to get your mind off of your injury. Not every second of your day needs to be filled with purposeful activities.
Consider Therapy
If you’ve been struggling with your mental health ever since your injury and nothing you’ve tried has helped improve your mood much, it might be time to seek professional help. Working with a therapist might be the solution. Navigating the healing process on your own isn’t easy, and there’s nothing shameful about talking to a therapist. Our team can help you navigate this process!
Find a Therapist recommends reaching out to your primary care doctor and asking if they know of any good therapists to whom they could refer you. You may want to look for a therapist who specializes in supporting clients with injuries or chronic illnesses - they will have a better understanding of your specific needs.
Recovering from an injury takes time. Getting hurt can have an impact on your mental health, too, and you need to consider your emotional well-being throughout the healing process. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your stress levels low while you concentrate on healing.
Written by: Cheryl Conklin