How a physical injury can impact your emotional and mental health.
Our bodies are connected with our minds and heart. When one area is compromised, the others are impacted as well. Therefore, if you have a physical injury of some sort, regardless of the intensity of the injury; the mind and heart will feel the effects. For example, if you have injured your ankle and the recovery time is 2 weeks, this may affect your mood and mind in the following ways:
– You may begin to feel frustrated with the situation.
– You may experience feelings of anger, resentment, disappointment and you may even feel guilt or shame with yourself or others.
– You might have thoughts such as, “I should have been more careful”, “I can’t believe I made that mistake, I’m such an idiot”, and even thoughts about others such as, “He/she shouldn’t have pushed me so hard”.
When these types of emotions and thoughts arise, pay attention to what your pain level is at that moment. Does it increase or decrease? Perhaps it shifts? While you may be treating the physical injury with massage therapy, seeing a chiropractor or engaging in physical therapy, it is just as vital to work through the thoughts and feelings that arose during and after the injury. By working through the uncomfortable emotions and the distressing thoughts that presented themselves as a result of the injury, you will be able to create inner balance and alignment allowing you to get back to the physical activity without holding onto the thoughts and emotions.
By: Bhavna Verma, MSc, CCC, RP