How to overcome trauma caused by medical negligence 

When you go to the doctor for a health issue, you do so by trusting they will protect you from any harm. Not even a single second could ever cross someone’s mind that they might experience trauma because of a healthcare provider. Unfortunately, this happens quite frequently, causing significant damage to the patients’ lives. Such an experience cannot only led to a financial burden – victims also have to cope with the emotional trauma caused by medical negligence.

When something like this occurs, dealing with the long-term consequences can be pretty challenging. Sustaining an injury due to the negligence of a healthcare professional can weigh significantly on your psyche. You might experience a rollercoaster of emotions, such as sadness, frustration and anger. At its worst, you might also develop mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.

While short-term solutions, such as suing the hospital and claiming compensation, can ease the burden, they won’t be enough to help you overcome the physical and emotional trauma. But you shouldn’t lose hope – it is definitely possible to navigate these challenging times and readjust to life.

In this article, we look at the effects of medical negligence and provide some tips on overcoming the trauma associated with it.

How does medical negligence impact victims? 

Medical negligence can take many forms. It can be a delayed diagnosis, a wrong medication prescription or dosage, a botched surgery, misdiagnosis, etc. Regardless of the way they occur, these mistakes are life-changing for victims.

Here are some of the most common physical and emotional changes that may arise due to medical negligence:

Physical effects

Medical negligence can either cause long-term or short-term effects. But regardless of their severity, these consequences will impact the victim’s life tremendously.

The physical effects of medical negligence may include:

• Chronic pain. The victim may experience chronic pain due to a medical error throughout their life.
• Disfigurement. A wrong surgical procedure might alter the outward appearance of the victim.
• Changes in movement. Whether in sports activities or regular life, victims may struggle to move as they once did.
• Mental impairments. Victims may experience changes in their cognitive functions as a consequence of medical negligence. These changes may impact speech, movement, personality, brain function, etc.
• Loss of limbs. This can result from improper medical attention, such as performing an incorrect medical procedure or not acting rapidly enough for the ailment.

Mental effects

The physical side of mental negligence is obvious, but it’s not the same for the emotional effects. This unexpected and challenging situation leads to a complete life change for victims. Thus, it’s only common for them to face a myriad of difficult emotions, such as:

• Denial;
• Anger;
• A sense of loss;
• Shock;
• Anxiety and depression;
• Feelings of worthlessness;
• Guilt due to the inability of controlling the situation;
• Withdrawal from social life;
• Bargaining;
• Grieving over the previous life;
• Being fearful of the future;
• Going through the process of adjusting to your new life.

Learning to adapt to a new way of living

You have to remember that experiencing these emotions is natural, given the circumstances. They are all part of the healing process, as you learn how to adapt to your current situation and the new way of living.

You might feel hopeless about the future, thinking that it will never get better – but it will. It’s essential to give yourself enough time to get through this challenging experience. The main hurdle is changing your mindset and accepting your new reality.

Read on to learn some ways to adjust to the changes in your life.

Embrace the grieving process

Grief can take many forms, and it isn’t only related to the loss of loved ones. When people lose something valuable to them, they grieve. This also includes changes in health and lifestyle. The first step to embracing your new reality is to allow yourself to grieve.

As mentioned previously, they are all natural emotions that you experience while readjusting to the new life. You shouldn’t bottle up your feelings – expressing them is critical for your healing. Whether you want to cry or shout, it’s okay to let these emotions out.

Shift to a can-do mindset

Once you get through the grieving process, it’s time to build a new way of living. You can do this by shifting to a more positive mindset and genuinely trusting you can readjust and enjoy life again even after such a distressing experience.

We know this is easier said than done, but you should start by focusing on the things you can control. Your first instinct is probably to think about everything you aren’t able to do at the moment. But rather than that, try to focus more on what you can do. Your potential goes beyond your physical capabilities, but you need a positive mindset to fulfil this potential.

Ask for support

When going through such a drastic life change, many individuals may hesitate to ask for support, either because they are too proud or don’t want to feel like a burden. However, getting support from family members and friends is vital during recovery. Thus, don’t be afraid to admit that you need help – your loved ones will be more than happy to provide support during these challenging times.

Claiming compensation is critical if you are a victim of medical negligence. Thus, you should also ask for support from law experts that can guide you through the legal process. For instance, the Medical Negligence Specialists in the UK can advise how to deal with your negligence case.

Eat healthily

A healthy diet can boost your mental health, so make sure to include foods with vitamins in your meals. Nuts, yoghurt, oily fish and berries are some options that can help you overcome your mental challenges. When your body is nourished with vitamins, it releases hormones responsible for your happiness.

It might take some time until your body adapts to moving differently, but eating healthy can help you overcome this hurdle.

Get a pet

Worthlessness is a common emotional effect of medical negligence. But this feeling is self-inflicted, and thus, it is entirely possible to overcome it by shifting to a mindset of acceptance.

A pet can help you significantly during the transition, and the unconditional love they provide can be the fuel that can help you embrace your new reality. In fact, pets are used in therapy to ease individuals’ recovery process. They are fantastic healers, so you should consider getting a pet if you feel like you’re capable of caring for another creature.