Have you, like hundreds of other people in Northern Virginia, suffered from an injury that caused you to lose a limb? Have you noticed that since this injury you have become more and more depressed, agitated, or unhappy?
You’re not alone. Personal injury amputations caused by car accidents, defective machinery, medical malpractice, or violence occur everyday. With these amputations comes depression and changes in mood.
Amputations From Injuries Often Affect Mood
When we lose someone dear to us, the natural reaction is to be sad and mourn. This allows us to cope with the loss mentally. Eventually, this sadness begins to lessen as we fill the void with other things. Painful memories fade into the background, leaving the happy memories to fight depression and make us smile. However, when you lose a limb, you’re reminded of your loss everyday. This makes it extremely difficult for the pain and sadness to fade. This consistent grief can severely alter your mood and—if not properly addressed—can cause extreme depression and anxiety.
Symptoms of depression to watch out for are:
- Fatigue
- Disinterest (especially in activities you normally liked to do)
- Irritability
- Anger
- Actively refusing to be happy
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or a loved one experience these symptoms or dramatic changes in your mood after an amputation, you should seek psychological advice.
An Experienced Fairfax Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Losing a limb is an extremely traumatic experience, especially if it was caused by no fault of your own. Therefore, the Northern Virginia personal injury lawyers at Shevlin Smith are happy to help ease some of this burden. We offer free consultations to help you explore your legal options for compensation, physical and psychological care, and comfort. Please contact us at F:P:Site:Phone} to learn more.