In the aftermath of an accident, it can be difficult to know which way is up. Dealing with everything that is going on can be overwhelming, and it may often feel like an uphill struggle. The support you receive following your accident is crucial to your recovery.
The people who are around you and the places you turn to for advice and support can aid you in your recovery. Just getting started on the right track will make a big difference to how you feel about the process that lies ahead of you.
An important part of your recovery is addressing your issues but in a manageable way. Trying to take on too much too soon without the right help in place can have the opposite effect, which means your progress will be slowed. Recovering from an accident doesn’t happen overnight, taking it one day at a time can be frustrating, but knowing that it will get you to where you need to be is the thing to hold on to.
Here is some useful information about the steps to your recovery. Broken down into smaller steps, and with the right support, it can be achieved.
Financial Concerns
Your accident may have a number of financial implications. It could have involved considerable damage to your vehicle or even the loss of your vehicle. This means you will need to be processing insurance claims, responding to a mechanic, or facing the idea of purchasing a new vehicle.
While these are all things that need to be addressed, give yourself some time to come to terms with what has happened before you get involved in practical details and paperwork. Ask a particular family member or friend to work through each part of the process with you. This will help with the burden and give you a different perspective on getting things done.
Your accident will also have an impact on your ability to work. The added stress of this financial concern poses a threat to your recovery. While you are going through the insurance process, it is also worth finding out more about SABS Ontario, the Statutory Accident Benefits Scheme. Consulting a lawyer can provide you with valuable information for both processes.
Your Physical Well-Being
The main focus of your recovery will be your physical health and any injuries that have occurred as a result of the accident. Anything from the first few hours to the first few days in the hospital can be a period of shock. Your mind and body will be struggling to adjust to your current situation.
There isn’t anything you can do to speed up the process of coming to terms with what has happened initially. However, this could leave you needing answers to questions much later in the process of recovery.
You could be to have a family member or friends take notes for you so that any important information that you can’t take in can be read and understood at a later date.
Your doctor will visit you before you are discharged. You can take this opportunity to discuss any points that you feel you might be missing. This is important, not just to understand the treatment you had, but also your prognosis for recovery, and what you will need to do to give yourself the best chance.
After your initial treatment, it is likely that you will undergo physiotherapy. Although you will have doctors and nurses to guide you, what you put into your physical recovery will also make a big difference. Taking advice, being a co-operative but questioning patient, and approaching it with determination will improve your long-term results.
Your Mental Well-Being
Your physical recovery will undoubtedly become your main focus; however, overlooking the steps you can take for recovering emotionally and psychologically, could halt other aspects of the process.
It’s common to experience distress and anxiety in the days, weeks, and months following an accident. These are symptoms, just like your physical ones, that you can and should discuss with your doctor. It may seem difficult to talk about the accident, so it’s important to find someone you trust to approach the subject.
A lack of sleep is a common symptom of anxiety that can compound all the other areas of difficulty. Sleep is essential to your physical recovery, as your body will do a large amount of healing while you do it. Sleep will also help your mental well-being as your brain needs a chance to reset and recover, too.
Take Small Steps
The number one thing you can do for your recovery is to be patient with yourself. Once you are on the road to recovery, you will get to where you need to be, but it will take time. Reaching out to those who can help is essential to moving along in the process. While you may not be able to go straight back to your life, you can gradually do the things you used to, and feel more like yourself again.
