Finding support and independence

A person will have many different feelings after spinal cord injury. While everyone deals with stress and change in their own way, there are some things you can do to increase your chances for success in adaptation and coping. This is a lifelong process. In life, there are always new issues to handle, despite the presence of injury.

Normal adaptation and emotional responses

Normal adaptation involves having a wide range of feelings without getting stuck in one feeling. For example, at certain times you may feel sad, frustrated, or have feelings of disbelief. You may also have feelings of denial about what has happened.

Finding ways to feel better

Pay attention to things that might make you feel better. Sometimes being around other people or doing fun things may decrease depression. A simple coping strategy is to deliberately include more of these activities in your days.

When to seek help for emotional health

If you are staying sad, angry, or depressed or having other emotions you are worried about, you should contact your doctor. Symptoms of depression include:

• Irritability
• Tearfulness
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Withdrawal or isolation from family and/or friends
• Loss of interest in activities that are usually enjoyed
• Feelings of helplessness or worthlessness
• Thoughts related to self-harm

Symptoms that last for two weeks or longer should be reported to the doctor. Any thoughts of self-harm should be reported immediately.

Asking for help and building support

It is important to know when to ask for help. People may have offered to help you since you’ve been home. Build supports through your family, friends, place of faith, hobbies, or peer supporters. Spend some time making a list of how you need help, and have it ready when people offer. At the same time, by doing as much for yourself as you can, you will develop independence, which will help you feel better about yourself.

Redefining yourself after injury

Adaptation and coping also involve fitting the spinal cord injury into how you see yourself. You may see yourself as a tall, handsome man who happens to have a C6 spinal cord injury, instead of as a quadriplegic. You may wish you were still able-bodied, but as long as it doesn’t stop you from living life, it is normal.

Addressing the permanence of the injury

It is also important to address the permanence of the injury. This does not mean giving up hope. Wishing the accident never happened is normal. Hoping for a cure is normal. Stopping your life because of the injury is not healthy and can lead to depression. If this is happening, contact your doctor.

Making time for normal activities

Make time for yourself, family, and friends to get back into doing some of the normal things you used to do before your injury. Go to sporting events, attend a concert, go to your place of faith, have a picnic, have some fun. Include leisure and productive activity into your life. Ask your vocational counselor for help with these issues.

Stress relief and health adaptation

Healthy adaptation and coping also involves finding ways to help you relieve your stress. Exercise, read, meditate, garden, go camping. Be sure to carve out time on a regular basis for yourself. You deserve it.

The role of peer support

Visiting with peer supporters is also a way to help adapt after a spinal cord injury. Peer supporters are people who have had a spinal cord injury for a while and can help with daily life and adjustment issues after injury. They are not counselors. They do share information and understand how to deal with certain experiences. Topics may include family and social adjustment, employment options, transportation, leisure interests, activities of daily living, and ways to deal with stressful situations related to your spinal cord injury.