Emotional Healing After an Injury or Illness
August 29, 2023
There is a sense of relief when you’ve seen through the worst of an illness or injury and you’re on the mend. But while you are physically better, your emotions may not be what you expected. You have begun the physical healing process, but what about the emotional one?
What Is Emotional Healing?
Emotional healing is the process of accepting painful life experiences and coping with emotional and physical stressors. After an illness or injury, people can feel a lot more than just relief from physical pain and trauma.
According to Ashaki Martin, M.D., a psychiatrist with Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group, common feelings after a significant physical illness/injury include:
- Frustration and anger with the recovery process
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Helplessness
- Loss of autonomy/loss of control
- Uncertainty about the future
- Acute distress or post-traumatic stress disorder
How Can You Cope?
Unlike a broken leg or other physical ailment, there isn’t one procedure or medication that will cure the emotional side of an illness. But there are numerous ways to cope. Dr. Martin offers five suggestions:
- Look for the positive. Focus on the aspects of life that add value and bring you joy.
- Practice self-compassion. Give yourself space to heal, and understand that these things take time.
- Use coping skills that have worked for you in a past struggle, such as journaling or meditating.
- Reaching out for support. This could be friends and loved ones or support groups of people who have had similar experiences.
- Use mobile apps to help. Downloadable apps can guide you with self-help techniques such as mindfulness.
Can Emotional Health Impact Physical Health?
Emotional health can impact your physical health, including heart health. As Raj Ballal, M.D., a cardiologist at JFK University Medical Center, explains: “Mental illness causes stress on the heart. It affects the sympathetic drive, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.”
Dr. Ballal notes that the link between the head and the heart is indirect, but comorbidities combined with mental stress can increase the chances of a cardiac event.
When to Seek Professional Help
“Emotional healing takes time, but someone should seek medical attention if their symptoms are significantly impairing their daily function,” Dr. Martin says. “Seek help if you are no longer able to manage your work responsibilities or if it affects relationships with family or friends.”
You may also want to see a doctor if you see no improvement in your feelings after several months. “And if you ever have any thoughts of self-harm, that would be a time to seek professional help immediately,” says Dr. Martin.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our sources: Ashaki Martin, M.D., and Raj Ballal, M.D.
- To find a behavioral health specialist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Find a support group near you.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
