Life Beyond the Impact of Medical Negligence

Experiencing an impairment after falling victim to medical negligence won’t be easy but, with these tips to help you adapt and cope, your new life will start to take shape before your very eyes…

Victims of medical negligence by no means have it easy. For those who are faced with the long-term consequences of this unexpected twist of fate, it can be a rollercoaster of emotions to overcome.

There are certainly short-term solutions to tackling the situation, whether you sue the hospital for medical negligence and claim compensation, or seek out an apology. That said, the long-term physical and emotional trauma that will come with this will likely last a lot longer than the initial compensation.

Inclusive Solutions is all about helping those with physical and other complex impairments to live happy and fulfilled lives. Whether you’ve had your impairment since birth, or have acquired it through medical negligence, it is completely possible to do just that. So, to discover how to overcome the mental barriers you might be facing right now, read on…

We specialise in autism in mainstream schools, inclusion of students with disabilities, education psychology, autism education, community building and training on inclusion.

How Can Medical Negligence Affect You?

Medical negligence can occur in a number of varying situations and ways. Whether it be due to a botched surgery, a delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis of a medical condition, providing the incorrect medication or medication in the wrong quantities, these are life-changing mistakes.

Experiencing a change in your physical abilities due to someone else’s mistakes can be very tricky to come to terms with. To give you a bigger picture of how this will likely affect the individual, here are some of the typical physical and emotional changes that may occur:

The Physical Effects of Medical Negligence

Medical negligence can leave the victim with severe long-term effects to their body. It may also lead to less severe, more short-term effects but, either way, the victim will likely have to adjust to a new way of life. Some examples of how medical negligence may affect your body, both in the long-term and the short-term, include:

  • Mental impairments: medical negligence could lead to a change in cognitive function, which may affect movement, speech, brain function, personality, and more.
  • Disfigurement: surgery gone-wrong might lead to an alteration in the outward appearance of the individual.
  • Loss of limbs: sometimes, incorrect medical attention could lead to the loss of a limb, be it through an incorrect medical procedure taking place, or not acting quick enough or correctly for the specific ailment.
  • Changes in movement: the patient may end up struggling to move in ways they once did, be it in sporting activities, or in day-to-day life.
  • Chronic pain: medical negligence may also lead to the victim experiencing chronic pain for the rest of their life.

The Mental Effects of Medical Negligence

The physical impact of medical negligence is certainly the most obvious effect, however, what’s perhaps more impactful is the emotional side of it all. An individual who is faced with a complete life change, like this, will likely experience a myriad of emotions, including:

  • Shock
  • Denial
  • Anger and aggression at their lack of control
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Guilt at not being able to control the situation
  • Bargaining
  • Feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing
  • Withdrawal from their social life
  • A sense of loss
  • Mourning your previous life
  • Fear for the future
  • Going through a process of adjustment

We specialise in autism in mainstream schools, inclusion of students with disabilities, education psychology, autism education, community building and training on inclusion.

10 Ways to Adapt to Your New Way of Life

What’s important to realise is that these emotions are more than natural, and are absolutely part of the process of learning to adjust to your new way of life. Although it may seem as though things will never get better, your life is just beginning!

The main obstacle in all this is changing your mindset, and learning to adapt and change to this new life challenge. So, for 10 ways of embracing your new lifestyle, and living a fulfilled life, despite the extra challenges you may face, read on…

  1. Embrace the Mourning Process

The first step to becoming the new you is to not shy away from mourning your old way of life. As we’ve already seen, these emotions are completely natural and normal, and are all part of learning to accept and come to terms with your current reality. Giving yourself the chance to express these feelings, be it through anger, upset, tears, shouting, and whatever else it may be, is paramount to healing for the future.

  1. Engage in a Can-Do Attitude

Once you’ve had the chance to mourn the loss of your former life, it’s time to start living your life to its full potential! The best way to begin this is to engage yourself in a positive can-do attitude.

This is, most certainly, easier said than done, but it all begins with focusing on what you can control. To do this, try not to focus on everything you can’t do now, and focus your mind on everything you can do. You have so much more potential than your physical capabilities, and all you need is a positive mental attitude to fulfil this potential.

  1. See This as an Opportunity to Discover New Hobbies

Many individuals who acquire a disability from medical negligence feel a lot of loss due to their inability to take part in their previous sporting activities anymore. That said, the world is your oyster, so now’s the chance to explore new hobbies!

Taking part rigorously in some sports could have blinded you to the other opportunities out there. Who knows, you might even find something new that you absolutely love, and that you never would have tried before.

We specialise in autism in mainstream schools, inclusion of students with disabilities, education psychology, autism education, community building and training on inclusion.

  1. Get a Pet

One of the most common mental side effects of becoming impaired after medical negligence is self-loathing and worthlessness. However, these feelings are completely self-inflicted, so it’s all about altering your mindset towards acceptance.

One great way to help you to do this could be getting a pet. Pets have the extraordinary ability to provide you with the unconditional love you so need during this difficult transition. They can also provide individuals with a sense of purpose.

Pets are actually known to be fantastic healers, and are often used in therapy to aid peoples’ recovery. There are plenty of places you can go to experience the love of pets, be it support groups, the local park, or a cat café. Or, if you’re really committed to this idea, and have the capability to care for another creature, getting your very own pet could be a complete life-changer. 

  1. Ask for Support

Many individuals who are struck by a life change like this may be too proud, or feel like too much of a burden, to ask for support. That said, support is a key pillar stone to helping you to recover, and start to live your life to the fullest again. So, don’t be afraid to seek support from friends and family, and be sure to accept any help that’s offered your way too. 

  1. Exercise as Much as You Can

If you have the capabilities to exercise, even in a minor way, this is a really brilliant way to heal. Not only is sport good for your health, it’s also a great way to boost your mental health too. In fact, exercise is a known mood booster; the endorphins produced after working up a little sweat are fantastic for keeping you happy.

To add to this, exercise is a fantastic outlet to get out the house and meet new people. This is essential in curbing depression and anxiety that may come from experiencing medical negligence.

  1. Consume a Healthy Diet

Similarly, a healthy diet is also key to boosting your mental health. Leafy greens, nuts, wholegrains, yoghurt, berries, and oily fish are all perfect choices to help you conquer your mental difficulties. They’re filled with all the vitamins your body needs to release the hormones that make us happiest.

Not only will this boost your mentality, but it’ll also play a key part in your recovery process. So, if your body needs time to adjust to moving differently, eating well will help you to overcome this challenge.

We specialise in autism in mainstream schools, inclusion of students with disabilities, education psychology, autism education, community building and training on inclusion.

  1. Laughter is the Best Medicine

We’ve heard it all before – laughter is the best medicine – but it truly has extraordinary effects on our bodies. Not only does it relax you, and help to take the weight off your shoulders, it also has some amazing physical effects too! It aids in heart health and boosts your immune system, making this the perfect next step.

The best way to introduce more happiness and laughter into your life is by surrounding yourself with people, entertainment, and things that make you laugh, and keep you happy. Be it going to watch your favourite comedian live, watching a funny TV program or movie, or hanging out with your best friends, you’ll feel much better after a bit of fun.

  1. Join a Support Group or a Community Circle

Although seeking help and comfort from friends and family is important, no one can really understand what you’re going through. This is where heading to a support group, filled with like-minded people, will help. Here, you can unload your emotions, and hear the inspiring stories of others who have been through what you’re going through. At Community Circles you can contribute as well ask for support.

  1. Try Person Centred Planning

Inclusive Solutions is known for their interest in supporting disabled individuals with planning for a wonderful, happy, and fulfilled life. But what exactly is Person Centred Planning, and how can it help you to embrace your new life?

Jack Pearpoint spoke about how those who work in Person Centred Planning can help disabled people to live life to the fullest. He says it means listening to a person, and “using your whole body, and watching and feeling and tasting, and whatever else it takes so that you actually make a safe space for someone to know what’s important to them.” In doing so, you can be sure that they realise what they truly want out of life, and can decide how to go about this, even with the challenges ahead.

We specialise in autism in mainstream schools, inclusion of students with disabilities, education psychology, autism education, community building and training on inclusion.

Can Inclusive Solutions Help?

Clearly, medical negligence can have a life-changing effect on you and your life, but that doesn’t mean that life has to stand still. Sure, life as you knew it will be different, but that doesn’t stop you from living a truly fulfilled life; perhaps a better life than the one you were living before.

We hope that, after reading this, you’ve learned something new, and have taken away the many ways in which you can boost your mentality towards your new situation. After all, it’s all about your mental attitude in this situation, and our 10 tips should help you along the way to acceptance.

For more information about how Person Centred Planning and Inclusion Facilitation can help you, we have a whole page dedicated to this. Go check it out, so you can get an insight into the support we, at Inclusive Solutions, provide for recently injured individuals.

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Colin Newton

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Doug Newton

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