Filing a personal injury lawsuit is an important step toward recovery. Getting justice and compensation are important, but the road isn’t easy. In addition to legal complexities, you’ll have to manage the emotional journey, which can involve stress, anxiety, anger, and possibly even depression.
Managing the emotional challenges will be an important part of navigating your personal injury lawsuit. Here’s what to expect.
You’ll need to lean on your lawyer
Throughout your case, your lawyer will be a primary source of support. You’ll most likely be overwhelmed by legal jargon and complex procedures in the courtroom, but your attorney will explain everything you need to know. A personal injury attorney will handle all the technicalities, meet court deadlines, and file all motions on your behalf. Although you’ll face uncertainties, leaning on your lawyer will help to reduce any stress and anxiety you may feel.
You might feel a flood of emotions
The emotional impact of being injured can begin with disbelief and numbness. Over time, emotions can flood in, including shock, disbelief, fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration. You might become concerned about your health, finances, or your future. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may also feel angry.
The emotional aftermath of an injury can be just as debilitating as the physical pain. It’s common to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, and it’s a completely normal response to trauma. However, if you don’t address and process your emotions, it can negatively impact your mental health.
The legal process will be confusing
There’s no way to avoid the confusing process of a lawsuit. This confusion can create overwhelm and anxiety fast. For instance, you might experience stress from the pressure of household bills piling up and lost income. This is why it’s crucial to have a lawyer you can lean on for understanding what to expect.
Psychological stress can impact you physically
There’s a good chance that prolonged stress will lead to physical problems. For example, anxiety can cause stomach pain, restlessness, and make it hard to concentrate. Stress can cause insomnia and also oversleeping.
Stress is a healthy response, but it’s designed to be a short-term experience – just long enough to move past a threat. However, prolonged stress can negatively affect your health. Chronic stress keeps your body in fight or flight mode for long periods of time, and can lead to heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke.
You’ll want to practice stress management
At the first sign of stress, start taking care of yourself by practicing stress management. Some of the best ways to beat stress include:
- Eat healthy and get regular exercise
- Practice yoga and deep breathing
- Get a full-body massage
- Practice daily meditation
- Keep a journal to express your feelings
- Seek support from friends and family
- See a professional counselor
- Find things to laugh about
- Keep busy volunteering if you’re physically able
Avoid additional sources of stress
While you’re going through your lawsuit, it’s important to avoid things that increase stress. This includes alcohol and drugs, sugar, and heavy foods. If you smoke tobacco when you’re stressed, try to cut down because, despite initial relief, smoking actually increases stress in the body.
Adjust to a new normal
If you’ve lost your independence because of your injury, you might not like depending on others. If this bothers you, it’s important to reframe the situation and understand that the people in your life want to help. Don’t entertain the idea that you are a burden.
An injury can drastically change your sense of identity and make you question your purpose and self-worth. It’s crucial to acknowledge these feelings while seeking new ways to find fulfillment. For instance, if your sense of purpose and/or identity has been challenged because you can’t perform your usual work, try to find new activities that can make you feel the same level of self-worth.
Prepare for financial challenges
No matter how solid your case is, it’s going to be a while before you get your settlement. Prepare to handle your household bills and work out a payment plan (or temporary deferment) with your medical providers. If they know you’re likely to receive a settlement in the near future, you’ll have more negotiation power.
Healing is emotional, too
Battling feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and depression are often inevitable while pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. However, don’t let that stop you from pursuing justice. Knowing what to expect and how to manage the emotional impact will help you get through your case easier.
Compensation is worth pursuing as long as you protect your emotional wellbeing.
