The Emotional Toll of a Long-Term Injury on Families
People who are involved in serious accidents are rarely alone. Loved ones in the person’s life tend to make it their duty to help care for the injured party. This obviously places a lot of focus on the injured person, helping them to recover while having a support system. However, a long-term injury does not only affect that one injured person. It can create a ripple effect that flows outward and touches every member of the household. This can create a fundamental shift in the emotional health of the entire home. While the injured individual fights for physical recovery, their loved ones often endure a parallel journey of emotional exhaustion and stress.
Understanding the different ways an injury impacts the family unit is essential for a holistic recovery. Here are five ways families pay the emotional toll of a long-term injury.
1. The Burden of "Caregiver Fatigue"
Caring for someone is truly a loving act. Though if the care ends up being long-term, and physically involved, it can wear the caregiver out. This is especially true if the injured person being cared for is mean or hostile at times. While this is natural for an individual whose brain is dealing with trauma, it’s unnatural for the caregiver. He or she starts to feel unappreciated and overworked, and as if their care is not helping. Fatigue settles in, and the caregiver can end up dealing with mental trauma, just like the injured party. A part of this stems from the caregiver not caring for themselves during this time.
2. Shifts in Power and Role Reversal
Roles and power dynamics are shifted and rearranged in many instances of long-term recovery. For instance, a parent who was the primary breadwinner can find themselves unable to work and provide. It could be the children or other family members who have to not only care for the injured person but also support the household financially. This sort of burden comes on suddenly and can take a massive toll. Dynamics shift all the time, but usually there’s a slow drift. Injuries can force this dynamic onto someone suddenly.
3. Chronic Stress and Secondary Trauma
Caregivers are under an enormous amount of stress. In some cases, even more so than the injured. The caregiver is often caring for the needs of the injured party while still holding life together outside of the care. They’re going to work, cleaning the home, and handling every other day-to-day task required. Only now, that load has been added to, with the role of caregiver. This can lead to a lot of stress that compounds over time. Secondary trauma can also occur with children who witness a parent’s immobility and severe injury.
4. Loss of Spousal Intimacy and Companionship
Spouses who are the main caregivers for an injured husband or wife often experience mental issues. The loss of intimacy is very damaging. Not only physical acts, but emotional availability really matter to a healthy union. Emotional gaps can be far wider and deeper than physical gaps. No more talking, laughing, sharing memories and dreams; this creates emotional distance. The caregiver can end up feeling abandoned and as if their efforts are made in vain.
5. Social Isolation of the Family Unit
Social isolation is a serious side effect of a caregiver role. It becomes increasingly difficult to make time for any sort of social life. No dinners, an inability to host gatherings, no hanging out with friends, etc. Feeling as if you’re unwillingly becoming a recluse and have no actual life can be mentally draining. This drain can turn into issues like anxiety and depression.
Finding the Path Forward
If you’re a caregiver who’s feeling mentally taxed, please speak with someone before it progresses. To help you manage the logistics, speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer may be a good move. With the right personal injury lawyer, some of that caring load may be spread out to medical professionals. It’s okay to ease your own burden.