Managing Mental Health While on Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault system that covers medical expenses and a portion of a worker’s salary if they are injured on the job. That is a straightforward benefit that helps millions of workers each year.

The underlying philosophy is “let’s help you heal and get back to work.”

The healing process from a workplace injury can involve physical and occupational therapy as well as plenty of rest. Ironically, it is in those moments of rest when your thoughts turn inward.

For some, that means pondering the accident and worrying about recovery. There can also be issues around a person’s perceived identity from their job and what would happen if that job went away. All of this can create mental health issues that can impact recovery.

The Link Between Workplace Injuries and Mental Health

To understand the link between workplace injuries and mental health, you have to consider the concept of bidirectionality.

This is a concept that refers to something that “flows both ways.”

The first direction is triggering an injury. For example, if a worker suffers from clinical depression while on the job, that can trigger cognitive impairment. When that happens, the risk of injury increases because the worker has a reduced capacity to focus or react to hazards.

In the other direction, when a worker is injured on the job and forced out of work, it disrupts their routine, income, and sense of independence. Those are the kinds of conditions that can generate depression and anxiety.

In fact, a study published by Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) found that injured workers face 45% greater odds of developing depression than non-injured workers.

There is also the chronic pain loop to consider. This occurs when the constant pain from an injury disrupts a person’s sleep. That, in turn, increases stress, which leads to an overall worsening mood that can directly impede recovery.

Because of this bidirectional linkage, it is crucial for workers who are injured on the job to develop coping mechanisms to help bolster their mental health with the goal of returning to work.

Strategies for Maintaining Wellness While Off Work

When a worker is physically injured on the job, it will take time for them to recover and heal. During that process, you also have to be proactive in maintaining your mental health just as much as your physical wellness.

These are strategies you can implement to maintain your wellness while off work.

Establish a Daily Routine

Losing your regular work schedule can be mentally disorienting. If you establish a new daily rhythm, it will keep you engaged. That begins with maintaining the same waking and sleeping cycles that you had on the job. It might be very tempting to “sleep in” now that you don’t have to get up for work every day.

However, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule creates a healthy circadian rhythm, which in turn goes a long way towards boosting your recovery.

Set Micro-Goals

On the job, you had definitive duties to perform. That is what drove your day.

You can set the same kind of micro-goals during your recovery process, but for tasks that are easy to accomplish around the house. For instance, you can read that book you’ve been wanting to read or organize the kitchen junk drawer. Even though your injury might present certain limitations, there will always be goals you can set for yourself.

Commit to Your Recovery Plan

It is vital that you stay strictly consistent with your prescribed physical therapy. Whether that is at home or at an outside facility, this will help reinforce your recovery. If your doctor permits, you can also perform gentle workouts on uninjured limbs. For example, if you’re recovering from a wrist injury, you can work out your legs.

Prioritize Mental Health

In addition to focusing on your physical recovery, you have to devote the same amount of energy to your mental health. That begins by accepting your feelings. It is completely normal to feel frustrated about your situation or experience a bout of depression.

Validating your emotional responses is a normal part of the healing process.

It is also important that you stay connected with friends and family. They will be concerned about what you’re going through. You might also find a support group of other folks dealing with the same issues.

Bottom line: you want to avoid the isolation that often comes with an injury.

Overall, you should also prioritize rest. It is not a sign of weakness to take a nap in the middle of the day or just devote a few hours to doing nothing.

Rest is a crucial requirement for healing.

Finding Professional Support and Legal Resources

As you navigate through the recovery process from a workplace injury, you might at times feel overwhelmed by your emotions and the financial strain. That is to be expected.

The good news is that there are many resources you can tap into to help with both aspects.

Work Injury Advisor provides valuable information on state laws governing workers’ compensation programs. It’s important to note that filing a workers’ compensation claim does not guarantee approval. If your initial claim is denied or undervalued, you have the right to appeal.

That’s when you’ll want to enlist the legal support of experienced workers’ compensation attorneys.

Help is out there, and that should bring you peace of mind.