A serious injury may cause your relationships to change

If you suffer a serious injury in an automobile collision or at work, you may face a long road to recovery. While you may expect to endure certain physical transformations, your relationships may also change due to your injury.

While a serious injury sometimes causes relationships to strengthen, it may also result in the loss of some of your most important personal ones. Nevertheless, how your relationships may change after your injury probably depends on the nature of them.

Your relationship with your spouse

If you have paralysis, broken bones, internal damage or even a traumatic brain injury, you may need considerable assistance with everyday tasks. This may cause your spouse to become your primary caregiver. Eventually, your husband’s or wife’s new role may take a toll on your marriage.

Your relationship with your friends

You have probably bonded with your friends over shared interests. If your injury makes it impossible for you to participate in activities with those closest to you, your friendships may change. Unfortunately, injured individuals often report feeling disconnected or even alienated from their pre-injury social groups.

Your relationship with your colleagues

Because you spend at least 40 hours every week at work, you likely have meaningful relationships with your colleagues or supervisors. Of course, if your injury renders you unable to work, you may see your coworkers significantly less or not at all.

Your relationships with your spouse, colleagues and friends are important to you. If these relationships end or change after your injury, you may need counseling or additional emotional support to help you cope.