How to Recover Mentally from a Work Injury
Many people focus on the physical aspect of recovering from a work injury. However, it is important to remember that an injury can also affect your mental state. That is why it is important to look out for your mental health during your recovery. Here are some tips for recovering mentally from a work injury.
Write in a Journal
When you are recovering from a work injury, you might have a lot on your mind. You may worry that your boss may be upset with you for taking time off work or whether or not you can perform the same tasks again. It may be therapeutic to write these thoughts down in a journal.
Focus on the Positives
If you have been sitting at home for a while now because of your work injury, you may have some negative thoughts. Unfortunately, thinking negative all the time can be emotionally draining and will do nothing for your recovery. Instead, think about the positive aspects. Whether it is having an understanding boss who empathizes with your situation or the fact that you can move around easier than you could last week, focusing on the positives will help your mental health.
Communicate with Others
One of the worst things you can do during your recovery is isolating yourself from others. Doing so can make you feel more lonely and depressed. If you don’t feel well enough to see your family and friends in person, consider talking to them on the phone.
Raise Your Self-Esteem
If you have been out of work because of an injury, you might start to feel unproductive and lose some of your self-confidence. While this is frustrating, you can do other things to raise your self-esteem. For example, you could try learning a new skill or playing brain games. Once you realize that you can be good at many other things, you may have more self-esteem.
Stay Active
If you are recovering from a work injury, the idea of exercise might seem impossible. However, as long as your doctor approves, light exercise may actually help your recovery. For instance, you could take short walks or perform gentle stretches.
If you have suffered an injury at work and want to pursue compensation, you may want to talk to a workers comp lawyer, like one from Rispoli & Borneo P.C.