Seventeen thousand people suffer a spinal cord injury each year, with 282,000 people in the United States living with spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord injuries are physically devastating. Victims can suffer limited mobility, loss of feeling, impact to bodily systems, and other physical effects.
Those living with spinal cord injury may overlook the psychological impact. Coping with spinal cord injury must include addressing both physical limitations and the emotional toll of what has occurred.
Our experienced Wilmington personal injury lawyers at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys discusses the psychological effects of spinal cord injury.
Understanding the Emotional Toll of Spinal Cord Injuries
People suffering from spinal cord injury are especially vulnerable to mental health disorders.
Nearly half (48.5%) of people suffering from a spinal cord injury will also suffer significant psychological impact. The most common mental health effects are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
While these conditions are also common in the general population, those with spinal cord injuries are twice as likely to suffer from an emotional condition. Conditions are also commonly co-occurring, with about 60% of those with one mental health condition having a second condition.
Why does a spinal cord injury hurt mental health?
There are several reasons that a spinal cord injury may also result in mental health damage. A person may experience significant pain, while the trauma of the injury can cause PTSD. In addition, a person may need time to process grief. Loss of employment may also result in decreased social connection; a person may need time to create a new daily routine.
Common Psychological Effects: Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD
As many as one-third of people who suffer traumatic injury will have major depression. Anxiety and depression may be especially common for spinal cord injury patients.
Anxiety
A person with a spinal cord injury may worry about the future. They may wonder about the cost of medical care and meeting personal needs. The person may have a heightened awareness of the dangers around them or may feel overwhelmed. A traumatic event can change activity in the amygdala of the brain, the part of the brain that differentiates between past and present trauma. It can make events of the past seem like ongoing threats.
A person with anxiety may avoid certain people and places. They may have intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, and trouble sleeping. They may also have physical symptoms like headache and pain.
Depression
Depression is a biopsychosocial condition that may result in negative thoughts, decreased energy, and changes in sleep. A person may feel that they have no purpose. They may feel irritable and hopeless and no longer participate in things they used to enjoy. Treatment may involve addressing nutritional needs, hormone imbalances, and behavioral factors, but appropriate treatment varies from person to person.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that develops in response to experiencing a harmful event. While it’s normal to have some trouble coping with a traumatizing event, PTSD is severe or long-lasting. It can interfere with daily functioning, causing flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. There may be physical symptoms, such as being startled or always on guard. A person may be especially irritable or aggressive.
Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health Resources
Coping mechanisms for those suffering from spinal cord injury are important. Those with psychological comorbidity have worse outcomes when it comes to physical pain, life activity, and return to employment. Appropriate mental health care improves outcomes.
Importance of Family and Community Support
A spinal cord injury can impact an entire family, so family support for the injured person is important. Community support for the entire family is important, too. Different family members may react differently, and the injury can change family dynamics. Because a spinal cord injury is a traumatic event, the family may be unprepared for the path ahead.
Anyone in the family can experience the psychological impact of a spinal cord injury. They may have increased concern about their family members or may worry about events in the future and have difficulty during periods of separation. In addition, misunderstandings and irritability can disrupt family life. Over time, without the right coping mechanisms, negative changes may become new routines.
It’s important to recognize these signs of trauma and know that help is available.
Long-Term Psychological Care and Therapy Options
Health professionals may help the injured and their families address the psychological impact of spinal cord injury. In addition, there are things that families can do to cope and create new family patterns.
First, acknowledging that there is a mental health component to a life-changing injury can help.
Recovery takes time, and it’s important to recognize the increased burden and demands that family members can be feeling.
It’s important to communicate with family members. Taking time for activities and relaxation can help the family rebuild and return to daily life.
Second, professional help may be beneficial. Mental health care can help with the physical and emotional effects of psychological harm. A person may benefit from counseling, skill building, and coping mechanisms. They may address any related issues like alcohol, drugs, and medication abuse. Several different types of therapy may help, including cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and other steps to process experiences and thoughts.
Compensation for Emotional Anguish and Mental Health Impact
A person who sustains a spinal cord injury because of the fault of another may deserve monetary compensation. An important part of compensation is acknowledging the mental impact of the injury. The cost of mental health care is one component, along with the personal suffering and anguish associated with psychological trauma, and should be factored into any monetary compensation.
Compensation for psychological impact can significantly change the appropriate award for catastrophic injury. An experienced lawyer can help you determine the value of your case.
Contact an Experienced Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Have you or a family member suffered from a spinal cord injury? Is there a psychological impact? We invite you to contact an experienced Wilmington personal injury lawyer today. At Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys, we represent victims in compensation claims. We will fight for you.
Call or message us now.
