There’s one thing we all learn from birth, and that’s the fact that we’re made for movement. As children, we have such a strong pull towards movement that we almost can’t help ourselves. And for many of us, getting involved in sports is about the most natural thing we can do.
But what happens when things go wrong? How do you cope with a sports injury that inevitably changes our life? In this post, we’re going to cover some coping mechanisms to help you see that life isn’t over. This is a hurdle in your journey that you can and will overcome.
Here are five tips for coping with a serious sports injury.
Get Legal Help
Don’t automatically assume you are at fault or the injury was inevitable. Talk to someone with knowledge of the law who can help you figure out what to do next. Just be sure to find someone who specializes in the type of injury you’ve sustained.
If you’ve sustained multiple injuries, find a lawyer who has experience with the issue that impacts your life most. For example, if you have broken bones and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), look for a brain injury attorney.
A lawsuit is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but it’s important to make sure any responsible party is paying your medical expenses. These add up quickly with any serious sports injury.
Assemble Your Medical Team
The doctors you have on your side at this time will depend on your injury, but you must assemble a great team of qualified doctors and psychologists to help you overcome this injury.
A serious injury like the one you’ve endured requires both mental and physical healing, and you shouldn’t go any part of it alone. A great start is searching for a facility that offers "urgent care near me" so you can be treated right away.
Learn About Your Injury
Even if you have the best possible medical team on earth, it's up to you to educate yourself on this injury. Your doctors will do their best to inform you, but they only have so much time. When you're recovering from an injury, you'll find that you have a lot of time on your hands.
Use some of it to learn everything you can about your specific injury. Focus on positive things like learning to live with the injury and any cutting edge treatments that may be on the horizon.
Maintain a positive attitude
This is easier said than done, but your overall outlook will play a major role in your recovery. You’ve probably heard miraculous stories of recovery and healing with the power of prayer or positive thinking. On the flip side, if you think you’re doomed, you are.
There are no downsides to seeing the bright side of things, so do your best to get there. If it seems impossible at first, start by surrounding yourself with positive quotes, music, imagery, and people. The more positive things you have in your life, the easier you’ll find it to shift your perspective.
Set appropriate goals
Talk to your medical team about some goals you can set for your recovery. If you think you can do more than they’re telling you, simply set the bar higher. The important part is that you set a goal and achieve it.
You may not be setting sports-related goals as you did before, but you need something to reach for. We all do. When we can bust through goals we thought were impossible, it gives us hope for a brighter future.
If you've suffered a serious sports injury, know that you aren't alone. So many people have been in your shoes, and you can find a community to provide love and support through your recovery.
So in addition to everything you “must” do, practice self-care. You deserve it, now more than ever.
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