Suffering any form of injury can be challenging for your mental health but an injury like a ruptured ACL can take its toll, especially during the recovery process after undergoing surgery. The physical side to this devastating injury is tough enough, but the Mental side can be a far greater battle, that unfortunately many struggle to win. So, in this post we will look at:
- What is depression
- The challenges you'll face
- Helplines available
What is Depression
Depression is a medical illness that impacts your mood in a negative way, it can effect how you feel, your outlook on life and have serious health issues that make everyday tasks like eating or sleeping very difficult. Whether you're a athlete or not, in your 20s or 50s, male or female depression can impact anyone, especially someone who has suffered a severe injury or may have undergone surgery. Many different people who suffer from depression can experience a variety of signs both physically and mentally, which may indicate that help is needed. These signs if spotted can help save someone's life and they include:
- Little to No Motivation
- Refusing to Socialize with people
- Bleak outlook on life
- Lack of energy
- Short tempered
Mental Challenges during your ACL Recovery
Feeling Alone and Abandoned
- Once you suffer a serious injury it not only impacts a body part but also restricts you from performing everyday task or socialize with friends. It's at this point you may begin to feel lonely and left out of all the amazing things that are happening in the world.
- In today's world it's easy to feel this way with social media being as popular as ever. Watching your friends exploring the world as you are at home resting and recovering from your surgery, can seem like everyone else is out having a good time without you.
- Remember that this injury isn't permanent, you will heal up and recover some day soon and that everything isn't as it seems on social media. These concepts can help you overcome this feeling of abandonment and help you focus on your first priority, which is not to impress anyone else but too look after yourself.
Everything was Taken from Me
- For athletes who work so hard at trying to win, break records or to just be number one an injury like this can feel like the whole world is trying to take everything you've worked so hard for.
- Injuries are a part of sport and for the most part they're only minor setbacks, but when major injuries occur it may be much harder to accept. This could lead you to becoming more and more angry, frustrated and even resentful towards people who may be asking questions about your injury, causing you to lash out or hurt the people closest to you.
- It's feelings like this that can put you into a spiral, dragging you deeper and deeper into a state of depression. Realising that injuries do unfortunately happen and understanding that letting go of these feelings may actually motivate you to make an incredible comeback both physically and mentally.
Real Friends and Fake Friends
- Before you got hurt you may have had a vast group of people that you would have socialize with, communicated regularly with and even shared stories with, but then you got hurt and everything changed.
- It's hard to tell who's a true friend when everything is going perfectly smooth however, when a major obstacle like surgery presents itself then you realise who's true and who's not. This unfortunately is a hard lesson to learn as it happens without warning for example, one day you could be the centre of attention and the next nobody is there to help you pick up the pieces.
- If at anytime during your recovery someone puts their hand out as a sign of help, remember their faces. Whether it's a family member or friend these are the people you need in your life, so that if you're feeling down there is always a Real Friend to help pick you back up.
Helpline Numbers for Depression
- UK: Anxiety UK 03444 775 774
- Ireland: Samaritans 116 123
- USA: Mental Health America 1-800-273-TALK ( 8255 )
- Canada: Text HOME to 686868
- Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14
Now that you've finished reading what are your thoughts about the information,
- Did you find it helpful?
- Have you ever experienced these feelings?
- Have you any advice for people going through this journey?
Comments
Post a Comment