5 Tips for Navigating a Playing-Related Injury, #2: Recovery Includes Self-Care

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I distinctly remember what was probably the worst day of my life: it started at an amusement park. I crawled out of my tent at 6:00 a.m., with the surreal hum of the rollercoaster warming up in the distance, and texted my stepmother asking for the phone number of a family friend who worked as a therapist. I hadn't slept in three days, and my anxiety was through the roof. I'd already begun searching for an answer to the strange and disturbing symptoms in my left hand, but before I could make any real progress I had to recover my sanity. I wanted so badly to run away from my life that I couldn't stand still long enough to find the ground and take the first tiny step toward a better place. I needed help, and thankfully, I got it. Within a couple of weeks, my insomnia and anxiety were more manageable, but I would never have gotten there without an unwavering commitment to caring for myself.

When you're dealing with something as overwhelming as a career-threatening injury, it's easy to lose focus and spin out into harmful habits. Don't do it. Below are six common-sense tips for self-care, and why they matter during recovery.

• Practice good sleep hygiene. Recovery, especially at a neurological level, is very taxing and our brain and body need rest to heal. So turn off your phone and computer an hour before bed, leave enough time for sleep, meditate, take a bath, do what you have to do.

• Eat well. There is plenty of evidence showing that diet has an effect on brain functioning and the inflammatory response. I won't weigh in on Keto vs. Paleo vs. FODMAPs (outside my wheelhouse!), but the bottom line is, eat healthy food.

• Exercise. Regular exercise also has a positive effect on the brain and nervous system, not to mention it boosts endorphins. Activities involving cross-body coordination also support sensorimotor function. Running, swimming, a walk in nature, Zumba in your underwear (in the privacy of your home, of course)...move your body.

• Monitor your media use. Does going on Facebook make you feel connected to others, or does it make you feel bad about yourself? How about watching Netflix, surfing YouTube, or reading the news? Do others' stories of injury and recovery make you feel hopeful, or depressed, or even confused about your chosen course of action? Take in what feeds you, leave the rest.

• Keep your spirits up. Different things work for different people: some examples include keeping a gratitude journal, trying some self-compassion meditation, or spending some time with a pet.

One of the most terrifying and frustrating things about a playing-related injury is the sense of a loss of control. In that sense, it's easy to feel victimized by the injury. Instead, learn to exert control over the thing you do have influence over: your attitude and general well-being. It will probably increase your odds of beating the injury, and it will ease your suffering along the way.