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After an injury or diagnosis of a serious medical condition, individuals often face emotional adjustment as they recover during rehabilitation — and as they return home to their families and communities with changes in abilities or function.
If individuals have a history of mental health challenges, they may be more vulnerable to experiencing emotional distress. For others, emotional distress may be a new and difficult experience to navigate.
In all cases, protective strategies can reduce the risk of continued emotional distress — including having strong social support, establishing coping skills and getting involved in activities that provide a sense of self-purpose.
Common Emotional Reactions
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First, it’s important to recognize it’s normal to have an emotional reaction — and a period of adjustment — after a life-changing event like a traumatic injury, diagnosis of a chronic illness, or an impairment that changes appearance or function. Three common emotional reactions include:
Anxiety: Individuals may fear the uncertainty of the future. Common anxious thoughts include how much functionality they will regain; if they will be able to return to work or provide for their family; how their relationships may change; and if they will return to a sense of normalcy.
Sadness: Individuals often grieve changes in self-identity and new limitations. They may wish their life was the same as it was prior to their medical condition, feel distress related to their lack of independence, and withdraw or feel detached from their support network.
Anger: Individuals frequently become angry about their current circumstances, comparing themselves to their peers or reflecting on their previous abilities. They can appear quick to react or short-fused with their loved ones, and they may appear physically tense.
Emotion Regulation Strategies
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While all individuals are different and need to find coping strategies that work best for them, the following are helpful suggestions for emotional regulation and adjustment:
Changing behavioral patterns: Individuals’ interests and abilities may have changed, and they may isolate or withdraw from others after a traumatic medical event. However, engaging in enjoyable activities — in line with their abilities and consistent with their values — allows individuals to increase their sense of purpose and feelings of accomplishment.
Changing the relationship with thoughts: Distressing thought patterns can result in staying stuck cognitively. It can be helpful to create distance from thoughts via journaling; speaking with others; replacing challenging thoughts with more helpful or rational thoughts; and/or using mindfulness practices.
Reducing physical tension: When individuals are stressed, there are physical responses in the body, including muscle tension, high blood pressure and shortness of breath. It may be helpful to engage in relaxation practices, including deep and slowed breathing, progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and releasing body parts), and visualization of relaxing scenes.
If emotional distress continues for months after recovery or begins to increase in intensity, it is important for individuals to speak with their medical providers about beginning psychotherapy and/or psychiatric medication. Psychotherapy can provide an opportunity to learn additional emotional regulation skills.
Meet the Writer
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Kristin Malewig, PhD, is a licensed psychologist on the Renée Crown Center for Spinal Cord Innovation and in the Pain Management Center at Shirley Ryan 小恩雅. She also is an instructor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She graduated with her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Southern Illinois University and completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. Dr. Malewig has been practicing as a health and rehabilitation psychologist since 2016. Her primary clinical work is with adults with pain, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other complex medical conditions.
This article is provided as a resource from the Henry B. Betts, MD, LIFE Center at Shirley Ryan 小恩雅. The LIFE Center is a multimedia education center that provides resources for people living with a range of cognitive and physical impairments, chronic conditions and diseases impacting function.
Visit the LIFE Center for more information for patients and families, to access our online resource library, and to contact our staff.
