Adjustment to ill health, injury, and/or disability is often associated with experiencing mood-related symptoms and/or anxiety regarding the future. The process of adapting to an injury or illness can lead to a variety of difficulties and a number of changes in people’s lives including:

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• Physical pain - decreased strength/flexibility, increased medication use, decreased physical activity, postural changes

• Psychological - unhelpful beliefs, thoughts, and worry

• Emotional - anger, teariness, hopelessness, frustration

• Work - impaired abilities and competence, changes in work role/loss of job

• Family - increased irritability with partner/children/family, financial difficulties

• Social - withdrawal from friends and leisure activities

 

If these difficulties are untreated they can lead to a range of psychological problems including:

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• Depression

• Anxiety

• Phobia

• Chronic sleep problems

• Chronic pain

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Relationship problems

• Substance abuse

 

Early intervention can moderate or prevent psychological disturbance by providing effective skills to manage problems in all areas of a person’s life. Adjustment to injury or illness counselling teaches self-management strategies for coping with these changes; increases options and alternative ways for doing things; and provides support during the rehabilitation process.

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Life after injury or a major health crisis can be overwhelming.  Many people report feeling worthless, misunderstood, lonely, and frustrated.  Many will suffer depression.   Adapting to physical change takes time and making appropriate changes in your life can be an extremely difficult process.  Adjustment counselling can help you navigate through the difficulty as you learn how to care for yourself. Mourning the loss of function and questioning whether life is 'worth it' can be replaced with a sense that happiness and fulfilment are things that are still well within reach. 

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If you have been injured or are experiencing a major health crisis make an appointment today to  begin your journey forward.