Experience depression, anxiety and to feel a sense of loss
of control within a familiar environment. While at home, the injured person typically feels helpless and frustrated with his or her limited capacity while recuperating. People to feel irritable, cranky, angry, hostile, pessimistic, or appear to be feeling nothing at all (flat affect). Recuperating patients can express resentment with the way they are being treated by caregivers, the insurance company or worker’s compensation carrier, or their employer. These feelings are not static; they can improve or deteriorate depending on the course of the injury and the perceived support from family and company. The mental health of the individual prior to the accident is a strong predictor of the initial reaction to the injury. Injured workers tend to be preoccupied with feelings and thoughts of loss. Injured persons have to accommodate and adjust their environment to their newly limited physical capacity. Thoughts of “why me” are common, with thoughts of life or work treating the person unfairly. The injured person feels desperate for the situation to change but doubts the effectiveness of the current medical intervention. A feeling of entitlement is not uncommon, and when the person believes he or she is not receiving all that he or she is entitled to then they can feel harassed or under appreciated. People express fatigue associated with pursuing insurance claims, being medically examined, filling out all the forms, and having to jump through the company’s (or government’s) hoops in order to obtain benefits. The effects of being out of work and even the possibility of being terminated creates additional stress on the injured worker and their support system. Person may appear constantly fatigued or may sleep more but complain of feeling tired. |
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