The Overlooked Mental Health Impact of Serious Physical Injuries

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It’s completely normal to focus all of your energy on healing your body when you sustain a serious injury. That’s only natural, of course.

But what most people overlook…

You can suffer serious mental health consequences after an injury. Trauma to the body can take a massive toll on your mental wellbeing. Often leaving you feeling helpless and depressed for months, or even years, after your injury.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why Serious Injuries Lead To Mental Health Issues
• Traumatic Psychological Conditions You Might Develop
• Simple Daily Tasks That Become Major Stressors
• How to get the help you need

Why Serious Injuries Lead To Mental Health Issues

When we think about injury recovery, we usually consider the physical rehabilitation process. Trips to the hospital. Medication. Physical therapy.

But there’s a psychological aspect to recovery we rarely talk about.

Your brain experiences trauma any time your body sustains a serious injury. Accidents cause abrupt changes to your physical abilities which can make you feel scared and vulnerable. Those feelings don’t just go away after your wounds heal. In fact…

Financial hardship can compound your mental trauma. Medical bills. Lost wages. Not knowing when you’ll be able to return to normal life. These things create anxiety that further damage your mental wellbeing.

That’s why hiring an Indiana personal injury attorney can help. Dealing with insurance companies and legal paperwork is difficult when you’re recovering from serious injuries. On top of physical pain and psychological trauma. Working with a knowledgeable attorney can take care of your legal needs so you can focus on healing and getting proper compensation to relieve financial stress.

Traumatic Psychological Conditions You Might Develop

Studies have shown that mental health issues are common after serious injuries. Here are some of the most notable findings:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD can affect anyone who experiences a traumatic event. That includes victims of serious accidents.

Recent studies estimate that 1 in 4 car accident survivors develop PTSD after the incident. Yikes.

Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme anxiety when thinking about the accident that caused your injuries.

Some people aren’t even able to drive again. Others can’t ride in a car without feeling panicked. Avoiding triggers related to your trauma is common with PTSD.

Depression

Sadness after suffering an injury is normal.

But it can easily evolve into depression if left unchecked.

When you suffer a traumatic injury, your whole life changes. You might not be able to perform your favorite hobbies or activities. You may lose your independence.

Your sense of identity may be challenged if injuries prevent you from doing the things you loved before. Your injury could have changed you in more ways than you realize.

Brain injuries lead to psychiatric disorders at elevated rates. Studies show that upwards of 30% of traumatic brain injury patients struggle with depression within the first year of injury. Those patients are also at risk of developing depression 20 to 30 years later.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is another common side effect of physical trauma.

Will my injury heal properly?

Will I be able to return to work?

What if I get hurt again?

It’s normal to have these questions swirling in your head after an accident. But if the anxiety doesn’t subside, it can start to impact your day-to-day life.

Anxiety causes sleep issues, appetite changes, and difficulties maintaining relationships. It only creates more stress as you recover from your injury.

Simple Daily Tasks That Become Major Stressors

Here’s another side effect of serious injury most people don’t think about…

Daily life becomes harder.

I’m not just talking about not being able to go to work or play basketball with friends. I’m talking about struggling to do basic tasks.

Getting dressed

Cooking meals

Keeping up with appointments

Pay bills

Grocery shopping

These are things we often take for granted. But they’re huge hurdles to overcome when you’re injured. Not being able to run errands or care for yourself like you used to can really make you feel down.

Not to mention, having limited mobility or experiencing pain while sitting at a desk all day forces you to spend more time recovering. That doesn’t exactly improve your mood.

Many accident victims require help with administrative work while they recover from injuries. Managing bills, insurance claims, household chores, etc. can become overwhelming. And some people hire virtual assistants to help manage some of these tasks while they focus on physical recovery.

Point being – not being able to participate in normal everyday activities takes a huge toll on your mental health.

The Dangerous Cycle of Pain and Depression

Depression and injury-related pain create a dangerous cycle that can be difficult to break.

According to one study, pain causes depression. Depression, in turn, increases your perception of pain. It’s a vicious cycle.

Not to mention, depression within the first three months of injury predicts worse quality of life 12 and 18 months after injury. Physical function, mobility limitations, and even social interactions are compromised when you’re depressed.

You can’t separate your physical health from your mental health. They both need to be taken care of in order to recover properly from injury.

Warning Signs To Look For

Are you starting to experience anxiety or depression after suffering an injury?

Here are a few signs to look out for:

• Feeling sad or down for weeks or months
• Losing interest in seeing friends and family
• Sleep or insomnia that won’t go away
• Intrusive thoughts about your accident
• Trying to avoid things that remind you of the accident
• Feeling like nothing will get better
• Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy

All of these are serious symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored. If you’re experiencing one, or more, of these issues after suffering an injury, seek help.

Getting The Support You Deserve

The best way to recover from injury is to seek help for both your body and your mind.

Speak with your doctor about any symptoms of anxiety and depression you may be experiencing. A lot of people feel embarrassed to bring up mental health after suffering an injury. They think they should just tough it out. But therapy and medications can help.

Surround yourself with friends and family. Your loved ones can help you through this journey, both emotionally and physically. There are also support groups for people suffering from similar injuries.

Hire a lawyer to help you seek compensation. You’ve been through a lot already. Let a personal injury attorney handle the legal side of your injuries so you don’t have to worry.

Consider seeking therapy for trauma caused by injury. Cognitive behavioral therapy is extremely effective when it comes to treating PTSD and injury-related depression.

Conclusion

Head injuries aside, your mental health can be severely impacted after suffering a serious injury.

Many people experience PTSD, depression, and anxiety after an accident. But they never seek help because they don’t realize what they’re feeling is abnormal.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical injuries. If you’re experiencing depression, talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Let’s give mental health the attention it deserves.