How to Help Someone Cope in a Relationship After a Major Injury

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A major injury suffered can dramatically change someone’s relationship with another. When these changes subsist over time, the situation can be more emotional and painful for both people in the relationship. If you know someone who’s suffering from a major injury, below are the things to consider to help them cope with a relationship.

How does a major injury affect relationships?

The impact of a major injury to someone’s relationship can be worst. Due to anxiety and trauma, an injured person may find it so difficult to recover from the aftermath of the injury. Some begin isolating themselves from their family and friends. If you feel that someone you know is having a hard time dealing with a relationship because of a major injury, take note of how an injury affects relationships:

An injury can affect communication

Communication is essential in a relationship. It is considered as one of the foundations of a healthy relationship.

• When we’re talking about communication, people communicate through emotional reactions, facial expressions, and physical gestures. However, communication of people having been injured is noted to be one of the most significant problems.

• Remember that changes in communication in a relationship can cause feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding. In this kind of situation, couples can no longer understand each other.

• Keep in mind that communication struggles can deteriorate the relationship itself, which later on leads couples to need to get away and leave their unresolved arguments behind.

• Take note that difficulty in communication also affects all other aspects of the relationship

A major injury can impact relationship roles

Role-playing is an essential factor in a relationship.

• It’s usual for couples to define their relationship roles. That’s why when changes in the roles occur in the relationship, adjustments for someone injured can be more challenging and sometimes frustrating.

An injury can affect responsibilities

Changes in responsibilities for someone who’s been seriously injured can be devastating.

• When responsibilities in a relationship dramatically change, couples tend to experience more stress. The situation may even become worse when the stress level is accompanied by injuries.

• You also have to remember that the stress brought by changes in responsibilities can create tension between the couples.

If you’re concerned about someone’s ways of coping after sustaining a major injury, it’s best if you understand how an injury can be a relevant factor in relationship struggles.

What are the ways to help someone injured cope in a relationship?

After knowing how a major injury can affect a relationship, it’s about time to focus on how to help someone you know to cope with a relationship after they’ve been injured.

1. Get support from family and friends

Support from family and friends can help people who’ve been severely injured adjust and recover.

• Although the process may be difficult, getting the appropriate support from their loved ones can mean a lot to them. It can help them establish new positive coping skills.

• Try to encourage their family and friends to be there as much as possible. Tell them to be patient and more conscious about their behaviors and emotions. The injured person’s loved ones can help them to create healthy and positive surroundings which they can use for their recovery.

2. Help them use positive coping strategies

It’s typical for injured people to adopt negative coping plans as they go through with their lives.

• Some, for instance, resort to self-blaming, too much worrying, and wishful thinking. That’s why the relationships they’re in can be so disturbing and unhealthy over time.

• In these types of situations, helping them use positive coping strategies can be a key element to a healthy relationship.

• Take note that there are coping strategies that can also go a long way in making their lives more adaptable while going through the full process of recovery.  Like – Helping them concentrate on the positive. Assisting them in defining their immediate and short-term goals. Encouraging them to do some physical activities and other forms of recreation and helping them get things done.

3. Listen to them when they are venting out their helplessness and frustration

• There are instances where they always want to be alone. However, you have to bear in mind that these feelings can destroy a relationship.

• When that happens, it’s good if you try to listen to them patiently. That way, they’ll know that they have someone to lean on during these stressful times.

• Don’t ever commit the mistake of criticizing their bad behaviors. Instead, try to be sensitive and more understanding of their feelings.

4. Make yourself always available

It’s truly heartbreaking seeing someone you love struggling because of an injury. In fact, the same emotion goes to situations where they start to lose their relationships.

• In these trying times, making yourself always available can help them recover and be a better person again.

• Try to do your best to comfort and encourage them to get up and recuperate from the pain and suffering brought by a major injury. Your presence can be something helpful that makes them feel loved and supported.

5.  Make things more manageable

Things can be upsetting for someone who has been injured. Apart from feeling so lonely and shattered, they may find their surroundings unsafe for themselves.

• Helping someone to cope with a relationship when they’ve been injured means making things more manageable for them.

• As much as possible, work with them to determine what’s bothering them. Try to solve the problem by figuring out some ways to motivate them.

A major injury can impact relationships. If you think that someone you love is experiencing difficulty coping with a relationship when they’ve had an injury, above are the things you may consider during these distressing situations.