3 Tips For Supporting A Loved One With A Major Physical Injury

While no one ever wants one of their loved ones to be sick or hurt, injuries and illnesses are just a part of life sometimes. And although many of those times the pain will be very temporary, sometimes biggest physical traumas will take place that will require months or even years of mental and physical recovery.

So if you have a loved one who’s been injured, whether they were hurt while serving their country or were in some type of accident, it’s important for you to know how to best be there for them and help with their care. To show you how to do this, here are three tips for supporting a loved one with a major physical injury.

Encourage Everyone To Speak Up

For many people, being hurt can make them feel very isolated. When this happens, communication often goes right out the window. However, this can be very damaging not only for the person who’s injured, but for the loved ones who are trying to care for and support this person.

To best address this, F. Diane Barth, a contributor to Psychology Today, recommends that your try to develop an atmosphere of open communication with everyone involved. Encourage your injured loved one to share how they’re feeling, what they’re worried about, and what they think they need as part of their recovery. And for the loved ones close by, express your own feelings about how your role has changed and what you need in order to best serve your loved one.

While these things might be awkward to talk about at first, they’ll help everyone get on the same page and feel like more of a unit working together.

Try To Be Available Whenever They Need Help

Depending on the extent of your loved one’s injury, they might need assistance on a very consistent basis. So if you’re committing to being there throughout their recovery, Liz Pekler, a contributor to Marriage.com, recommends that you do your best to always be there when your loved one needs you.

If something comes up and you can’t be available when needed, try your best to find someone else who can lend a helping hand rather than putting that responsibility on your loved one.

Find Ways To Help And Serve Without Adding More Pressure

While you might be willing to help your loved one, many people suffering from illness or injury just feel added pressure to always be telling people what they need or how to help them. What can often be nice, according to Amy Zellmer, a contributor to the Huffington Post, is to not add any more pressure by requiring specific directions.

Once you’ve said you’ll help your loved one, just pitch in wherever you see a need. If this means doing some cleaning, making a meal, running some errands, or just being around, try to serve them in a way you see needs done without making them ask you for it specifically.

If you have a loved one who’s been hurt, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you be supportive during this tough time.

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