Rebuilding confidence after a personal injury

Personal injuries can come in several forms, all of which can change your life dramatically. As a result, you may be left with physical or mental limitations which have an effect on your confidence.

Trying to rebuild your confidence and love yourself again is not an easy journey. It can take months or even years. Here are some tips to help you along your confidence-rebuilding journey.

Acknowledge your emotions

Having strange reactions or emotions to your situation is a common part of the aftermath of a personal injury. Things may feel confusing and intense, and you may not be sure how to deal with these feelings.

One of the most important things you can do is to acknowledge those emotions. You may be able to identify feeling frustration, anger or sadness. Understanding that these feelings are valid and normal is a natural part of the healing process.

Set realistic rehabilitation goals

Your recovery can end up being a very long process and this can leave some people feeling disheartened and unmotivated.

One way to combat these feelings is to set yourself realistic goals regarding your rehabilitation. Start off small with tasks such as walking to the end of your driveway unaided or showering without assistance. This will help to boost your confidence and motivate you to keep working hard.

Once you have mastered several smaller goals, you can begin to think about the long-term achievements you want to gain. Try to consider your prognosis or advice from any medical professionals about your range of movement or ability to return to your previous physicality to avoid disappointment.

Seek professional guidance

If your injuries are the result of negligence or an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. In this situation, speak to personal injury solicitors to discuss your options and see if you have a case. Having a financial boost can help to support your recovery and allow you to afford private care and potentially avoid waiting lists.

Medical professionals will have supported you throughout your recovery, but that support may come to an end the better you feel. See if there are support groups within your local community or online. This will give you an outlet for any negative days with people who understand.

Visualise success

Many people will tell you that a large part of recovery from a personal injury relies on mental strength. Whilst it can be annoying to keep hearing this, it is a true statement.

Some people find solace in visualisation techniques and affirmations to aid their recovery. You may want to have mantras that you repeat daily or carve out some time in your day to visualise your goals and how you are going to achieve them.

Both of these activities can help you to feel more motivated and confident that you will be able to recover carefully.