Healing takes time, but there are so many things that you can do to make it easier on yourself, especially if you’ve had an accident. Whether it’s a minor bump or more serious collision, a car accident can really throw your whole and your life off balance. One minute you’re on your way to the shops and the next you’re dealing with insurance, strange aches and pains, and a diary full of appointments that you never planned for. It can be a lot!
But here’s the thing, recovery, both physical and mental, is possible and all you need to do is go gently, give yourself some space and focus on the small things that can help you get back to feeling like yourself again. So if you’ve recently been in a wreck or similar public accident, here are some of the top recovery tips to help you to get through it.
- Don’t brush it off. Even if you walked away from the scene of an accident, it’s always a good idea to get looked over by a medical professional. Some injuries, such as whiplash or soft tissue damage, can take days to show up. Getting a proper check up also means that you have your injuries documented ready to take to an injury attorney. This is important if you’re dealing with insurance or you need to explain time off work. Documentation can back up pretty much everything, so you need to make sure that you have got your documentation in hand.
- Rest as much as you can. We get it. You’ve got stuff to do and places to go, but your body has been through a shock, which means that you need to give it time to heal. Healing takes energy, which means you need to rest to replenish those stores. If your doctor tells you to take it easy, take it easy. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to lay around in bed all day, but it could mean reducing your screen time or skipping extra errands or asking for help. Recovery is not about being lazy, it’s about giving your body the time that it needs to do its job. Because if you don’t give it the time, it will take it from you, whether you like it or not.
- Know your limitations for activity. Speak to your doctor and your physiotherapist if you have one, about when you can start gentle movement after an accident. Of course, gentle movement can help you to speed up your healing, but you don’t want to push yourself if something doesn’t feel right. Short walks, light stretches and low impact activities like swimming can help to get your blood flowing and avoid stiff joints or muscles. The key here is consistency and not intensity.
- Look after your diet. Food is probably going to be the last thing on your mind once you’ve had an accident, but that’s the shock, not the lack of hunger. Your body needs fuel to be able to heal, so try to eat balanced meals with plenty of fruit, vegetables and proteins to support tissue repair. And staying hydrated can help you to reduce inflammation. It can also work to flush out toxins and keep you feeling more energised overall. Something as simple as a cup of tea and a banana is a step in the right direction.
- Look after your mental health. PTSD is very common after an accident, especially if you’ve witnessed something quite horrific. It’s not just about the bruises and the broken bones that come with an accident, but the emotional impact of them. Anxiety, irritability and feeling low afterwards is normal. Talking to somebody that you trust, whether that’s a friend, a counsellor or a support group, can help, and journaling your experiences or even taking up mindfulness exercises can help you to process what happened.You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself: healing mentally takes time.
- Stay organised with your appointments and paperwork. Accidents often come with a side order of administration work. From physio sessions to insurance forms, you can get overwhelmed very quickly. By setting up a simple folder, you can keep everything tracked in one place. A basic checklist can help you to keep track of who you’ve spoken to and what comes next.
- Don’t say no when you’re offered help. Help is so important when you are healing from an accident. You want to make sure that you are getting as much support as you can. So if you have friends and family who want to rally round and pamper you for a little while, let them do it.