Although injuries aren’t typically thought of as grief-related events, any injury can lead to grief—though perhaps on a lower level. Even still, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are all stages that one may go through during this time.

That’s why it’s important to understand and implement practices to effectively deal with the adversity one faces from an injury, and ultimately make peace with it.

One of the most important things to do is focus on what is still possible. It’s very easy to slip into a state of negativity, especially from a major injury that sidelines one for months. At this time, it becomes highly important to be optimistic (or at least realistic) and focus on ways to still be active. It will obviously be different than the norm, but finding ways to still get some form of movement in is vital for physical, mental and total well-being. 

For example, even if it’s a major injury to the lower body such as a broken ankle, there are still non-weight-bearing exercises one can perform, such as seated leg extensions, side leg raises and glute kickbacks.

Also, it’s important to set goals and focus on progression. People that exercise regularly may even have an advantage here as they often set goals in their fitness routines. As a result, one can easily adopt a similar mindset for injury recovery.

Specifically, instead of only yearning for the end, focus on that small next step. Think about the near-term goals that mark signs of progress. This gives one something to look forward to and a sense of self-control, which can easily be lost initially after an injury.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that injuries are only part, not a defining point, of who someone is. As such, it’s always possible for one to make peace with the injury and perhaps even use it to grow stronger—not just physically, but mentally and holistically, too.