Here’s How to Deal with Traumatic Injuries and Events

Updated on September 3, 2021

Trauma is a major cause of mortality for people of all ages caused by physical injuries, violent occurrences, natural disasters or personal events. It can cause many side effects such as withdrawal, disorientation, irritability, poor concentration, mood swings, and anxiety, among others. Certainly, symptoms vary across individuals and every person responds differently to trauma. The good news is there are things that can be done to alleviate the symptoms and short or long-term effects of trauma.

Treatment of Physical Trauma

There are two types of physical trauma that can occur to your body. One is blunt force trauma or when an object or force hits your body. This can result to bleeding, concussion, broken bones, and cuts. Another scenario is penetrating trauma where an object punctures the skin creating a wound. When this happens, you will need medical care to treat physical injuries in the form of first aid, wound dressing, or at worse, surgery. Note that trauma research is constantly updated and there are advances in wound care to promote healing and less scarring.  Testing of new approaches and treatments is continuously undertaken to increase survival rates and reduce complications.

After treatment, you might need physical therapy and rehabilitation to mend broken bones or improve mobility. All these medical interventions cost money and time. Unfortunately, you might also lose income while recovering from physical injuries. On the bright side, you are entitled to compensation in case of personal injuries. According to legal expert Johnson Garcia, victims of trauma can recover damages after injuries if negligent and wrongful actions can be proven. Financial reparation can help pay for hospital bills, therapy, and loss of income or productivity.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

In addition to physical injuries, trauma can also impact the emotional and psychological condition of a victim. Trauma can affect behaviors and manifest symptoms. For example, you may feel nervous, afraid, angry, or guilty after a devastating event. Headaches, stomachaches, back pain, nausea, fatigue, or dizziness are some of the physical symptoms that you may experience. As a result of these feelings and symptoms, it might be difficult to sleep, eat, work, or do your daily routine. Others may possibly turn to drugs, smoke more, or drink alcohol. Concentrating is difficult and decision-making is not easy. 

Recovery from trauma varies from a few days to months and even years.  If your symptoms do not ease up, you need to get help. Talking to somebody about your feelings offers relief and going into therapy is helpful. Your doctor can also prescribe medications that will relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other emotions you are going through. It is also vital to be active. For instance, exercise for at least half an hour each day, reconnect with old pals, or participate in social activities. Joining support groups for trauma survivors and volunteering also reduce feelings of isolation and facilitate recovery.  

Traumatic injuries are devastating. They affect the physical, emotional, and psychological condition of individuals. Medical interventions, physical & psychological therapy, rehabilitation, medications, exercise, and social activities are some ways to recover from traumatic injuries and events.

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