The following guest post has been written by Dr
Katrina Hinkley, Director of Connect Psychotherapy Practice, providing
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Bath and Bristol.
If you have suffered a
personal injury, perhaps due to an accident or clinical negligence, you may be
experiencing symptoms such as chronic pain, low mood, insomnia or irritability.
The litigation process can
help to recompense you for any financial, physical or psychological damage you
have suffered, and can also help to pay for any ongoing medical treatment.
However, the litigation
process can itself be stressful, and perhaps exacerbate some of your symptoms.
Perhaps you struggle to open letters relating to your claim, and put them off
until you have a pile of unopened mail. Or, you may be dreading an upcoming
court case and worrying about being cross-examined.
Perhaps you feel unworthy of
recompense even though you know that you are not to blame for the personal
injury you have suffered.
If you recognise any of
these feelings, you’re not alone. What you are experiencing is entirely normal.
If you are new to the litigation process, it’s only natural to worry about what
will happen and feel anxious or nervous.
Talk to your solicitor
Your solicitor is on your
side, and will do all they can to reassure you and explain anything you are
unsure about. Tell them about your concerns, no matter how trivial you think
they are. Ask them to go through any letters with you, if necessary.
Familiarise yourself with the process
Ask your solicitor to talk
you through the process in detail, so that you feel more prepared. They
willexplain what happens, for example, during a court appearance, and will be
able to talk you through any questions that you may be asked.
Share your feelings with family and
friends
Don’t feel that you should
be coping with this on your own. When you tell family and friends how you feel,
they are likely to be happy to listen and offer support.
Get support from a therapist
You may benefit from meeting
with a psychotherapist, who will help you to manage your feelings of stress
using therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
This can also help you to
manage symptoms caused by your personal injury, such as chronic pain or post
traumatic stress disorder. Seeking help from a therapist doesn’t mean you are
‘mad’ – it simply means that you need help to cope with feelings and symptoms
that are not your fault.
Further information
To find out more about CBT
for feelings or stress, anxiety or chronic pain, visit the Connect PP website.