Car accidents are traumatizing experiences and unfortunately a more common experience than you may think. Nearly 40,000 Americans die each year in car accidents, and the chances of being injured in a traumatic car accident are 1 per 103 Americans. As tragic, random, and traumatizing as car accidents are, life can’t pause indefinitely because of a traumatic accident.
Thinking about getting back on your feet after a hospital stay due to a traumatic car accident can be overwhelming. You have to focus on allowing your body to heal while also dealing with the trauma of the accident you were just in, all while juggling real-world problems.
The stress of missing work, relying on others, and bills piling up from the hospital can make it feel like reclaiming the life you had before your accident is impossible. According to post acute care management, Daiya Healthcare, recognizing you need to make changes in the way you live your life after you leave the hospital to get back to that healthy lifestyle is the first step in your reclamation process. With that in mind, here are five tips to help you reclaim your healthy lifestyle after a car accident.
Consider Post Acute Care Management
After being in the hospital due to a traumatic car accident, patients typically will require some level of continued medical care to be done at home or at a rehabilitation facility that specializes in your treatment. This practice is called post-acute care management. While you may have the option to go home for your care, unless you can get a registered nurse to your home and you’re able to get up and out of your house to physical therapy, we recommend looking into a rehabilitation facility.
Many rehabilitation facilities’ costs are covered by insurance plans, especially regarding traumatic accidents. The people working at these facilities are trained in post-acute care management. Having people with that knowledge around can make it easier on your recovery and stress levels, as they can answer nearly any question you have and aid you in your recovery plan along with any pain management. At-home care attendants can do this too, but again, where you receive your care is dependent on the severity of your injury. Talk to your doctors for their recommendation.
Immerse Yourself In Nature
Studies show that exposing yourself to nature can expedite your recovery time. In a case study amongst hospital patients, researchers found that patients who were looking outside at a view of the trees recovered faster than those who were looking at a window that faced a brick wall. Along with the speedy recovery time, the patients looking out into nature were reportedly high-spirited, positive, and overall more cheerful than their wall-starring peers.
When you’re home recovering from your traumatic accident, keep your windows open on sunny days. Try to get out for a drive or a walk if you’re capable. When you’re feeling good enough think about looking into a nature walk or retreat, that can help stimulate your mental health as well.
Try Meditating
Meditation has been shown to have beneficial effects both on your mental health and your overall recovery. You can even think of it as a mental adjustment rather than meditation if you’re skeptical because that’s what meditation does at the end of the day. By meditating upon your circumstances, you can positively change your thoughts about your injury which will aid in a speedy recovery. Top athletes are known to meditate before games and during their recovery process, training their minds to be as strong as their bodies.
Focus On Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle
What you put in your body and how well you treat it directly correlates with the speed of your recovery. Try to maintain a whole diet, eat lots of leafy greens, vegetables, and proteins, and limit your intake of processed foods and sugary sweets. Exercise may not be on the table for you yet but talk to your doctor about when and how you can incorporate an exercise plan safely into your recovery. Exercising regularly and getting your body back into shape will benefit your mental health and the speed of your overall recovery process.
Think About Talk Therapy
The trauma your body experiences in a traumatic car accident is evident. However, your mental traumas may wait to haunt you, and typically come into full force when patients leave the hospital and try to get back into their usual routines. Talk therapy can help manage your stress during both the transition back into your healthy lifestyle, and the memories and pain brought onto you from the car accident. You can talk to your doctor to see if they have any recommendations, specifically for therapists who specialize in trauma care.
