No one wants to have an accident, especially those with mental health struggles or a chronic illness. For the healthiest person, a fall, car accident, or any other injury-inducing moment would cause stress, but for those undergoing existing mental health or chronic illness struggles, it can be debilitating. So, first thing’s first, it’s crucial to take all the necessary steps to look after yourself as carefully as you can. After all, you’re always stronger than you think you are. So, for tips and tricks on recovery and staying calm in the aftermath of an accident, read on!
- Rest
This sounds simple – especially for those who have chronic illnesses, you may be used to hearing this – but it can be difficult to do once you’ve had an injury. Whether you’re rushed off your feet trying to organize repairs to a car, dealing with insurers, negotiating with companies, or discussing compensation, there can be a lot to do after an accident. But the most important part of your recovery is rest. Taking your foot off the peddle is key,
- Ask for help
You may be tempted to think you can do it all on your own – but you don’t have to! Asking for help from friends, family, loved ones or carers can make all the difference. Even if you’re not organizing things, reaching out to someone to talk to and share your worries with can make all the difference. The old saying a problem shared is a problem halved does indeed ring true a lot of the time.
- Meditate
Introducing mindfulness and meditation can be helpful for your recovery. While your body may be injured, it’s crucial to take careful care of your mind. Meditation and mindfulness help put things into perspective and raise your ability to manage stressful situations with a sense of calm. You may already be an old hand at meditation (congratulations!) but if not, you can get started by trying an app such as Calm or Headspace – they’re simple entries into the practice and can be done from the comfort of your home, or even bed.
- Call in the professionals
This may not be your first thought, but if the accident you were involved with was the fault of someone else, it may be worth your while to consult a personal injury law firm. Reputable law firms will do what they can to get you back on your feet and work to ensure you receive what you deserve. After all, recovery can be a long and expensive road, so take the help where you can get it.
- Keep your mind active
As you recover, you may find yourself less active than usual, or just in need of more time at home. In which case, it’s so important to listen to the doctor’s orders – and your body – and do just that. That can, however, have a negative impact on your mind. To keep your mind active and your spirits up, consider picking up some hobbies to keep your mind active. That could be reading, learning to knit, or even picking up a new language. There’s nothing like the mental lift that you can get from learning something new and practical, and all of these can be done from home thanks to apps and the internet.
- Self-care
When you’ve been in the wars, giving yourself some love and kindness can make such a difference. The best thing about self-care is that it means different things to different people. For some, it’s a bubble bath and a good book, for others it’s a gentle walk in the park or journaling. If you don’t know what makes you feel happy and calm, take the time to write a list of things that make you feel good, Once you have this list, you can do small acts of self-care daily, which will help you feel more like yourself.
- Maintain movement
If it’s possible – and is agreed by your doctor – try to incorporate daily movement into your recovery. While it’s crucial to rest and listen to your body, if you can – and if your injury allows it – try to incorporate some kind of daily movement. That could be some gentle exercises from bed, or yoga, or even a walk around the park with a friend. Never underestimate the power of physical movement for helping the mind, body, and soul.
Hopefully, this list has given you some inspiration as to how you or someone you know can recover from an accident. Good luck!