Starting from Rock Bottom

[blue636]

In October of last year, I was involved in a motorcycle accident where an inattentive lady hit me at an intersection. She admitted fault, which was great for my case, but it affected my life big time.

 

For starters, I sustained injuries which are finally beginning to heal. It's been about 7 or 8 months now and being unable to work has seriously taken its toll on my life. I've also missed out on an entire semester of school.

 

At any rate, I'm now out of a vehicle, limping, and looking for work. I'll be starting school again in a month.

 

Does anyone have any tips to stay motivated? I've also been rather depressed lately. Do I need to seek professional help? No work means no medical insurance.

 

The bright side is that I am on the winning end of the settlement with her insurance company. The only problem is that insurance settlements sometimes take months or even over a year.

 

Thanks.

[AbitLost]

Wow, you've had a tough time. I was severely injured 11 years ago-- wheelchair bound for awhile etc. Let me say, it gets better. Revovery-- from anything- is a process. Losing your mobilty is as much an emotional wound as a physical one. Feeling helpless, frustrated-- easily tired by things that never bothered you before-- exausting-- very easy to get depressed. Here are a few things that worked for me-- any remember, this was before the internet!

 

1) Be patient w/ yourself-- you won't get back to where you were before for a long time. It was over 2 years for me before I didn't think about every single step that I took.

 

2) Spend time w/ people who are upbeat-- friends, family, on the internet, a group-- church/faith/spiritual/ or even one that shares some interest of yours -- music/art/dogs...join a club, political group, volunteer,,,, even an hour a week...

 

3) If you are registered at school, can you access their counseling services? Sometimes they are free to students...

 

4) You know you are down, so monitor yourself to make sure that you don't sink too far-- if you do, then seek professional help.

 

5) Build up as much physical strength as possible-- work out what isn't broken-- great for the mind...

 

6) If you are going back to school next sememster, try to buy books on some of what you will be taking now so you can engage your mind... or go and read the latest in the topical journals for your major ( assuming college, grad school is what you are doing).

 

7) Looking for a job is the toughest job I know-- very discouraging at the best of times.... work at it for xx hours a day-- looking at job sources, completing applications, working in resume, submitting-- then go do something positive for yourself. I know $$ is very tight, but try a class-- ceramics takes your whole brain, by the way-- art, writing, underwater basketweaving... whatever--sometimes they are low cost thru local parks & rec dept-- assuming you don't live on at the end of a very rural dirt road....

 

Hope these help!

 

aBitlsot

[blue636]

Thanks, ABitLost! That's a rather inappropriate name given the good advice you gave.

 

I am starting school on July 3. It's a late summer session and I'll be taking some computer classes. I received my textbooks in the mail from Amazon today and it looks difficult! I'm a Cognitive Science major, so computers aren't my thing but I'm hoping it helps get my mind off things and just get back to life.

 

I'm glad to know that you can relate to what it's like to be immobilized. It's very interesting to know what kinds of things we take for granted until we're completely incapable of doing normaly, everyday things. Walking seemed like a distant dream and even moving around to do simple things became a real chore.

 

I'll take the advice you gave and see where it takes me. I'm sure it couldn't hurt. I guess getting busy with responsibilities and staying busy is the key. I guess the saying goes: Busy hands are happy hands.

 

Take it easy!