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Recovery Intro & Links
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Taking Stock of 'Life After Burn' — Leonard George Ph.D., R.Psyc. A wise burn survivor once told me: "It isn't just my body that's burned - it's my life!" And many survivors have since agreed with this statement. In addition to pain, changes in appearance and altered functioning that are often features of 'life after burn', injuries can have a lasting impact on relationships, emotions, values and more. If a burn injury affects the whole person in this way, then recovery from the injury has to involve the whole person as well. If you are currently helping yourself - or someone you care about - through a period of recovery from a major injury, you might be helpful to take stock of the injury's effects in each aspect of the person's life. Then, think about ways to support positive changes in these areas. For many of us, the question is: where to begin? Here is a simple exercise that anyone can do, either alone or with a loved one. On a blank piece of paper, write the following letters vertically along the left-hand side of the page: B E F I T S These letters stand for seven parts of your life: B = Behaviour: Your daily activities, exercise, chores, job, school, physiotherapy, medication use, sleep, eating, etc. E = Environment: Your social as well as your physical world, your home and neighbourhood, including family and friends and what you do with them - having fun, intimacy, etc. F = Feelings: Your moods, joys, fears, etc. I = Imagination: Your dreams, fantasies, daydreams, etc. T = Thoughts: Your goals, self concept, habits of thinking such as "what if…", "if only…", etc. S = Sensation: Your pains, pleasures, tensions, etc. Now think about how your life has changed in each of these areas since your injury. Write down your observations beside the letters on the page. Next, think about what you can realistically do to start making the changes you want. If some areas seem more problem-laden and harder to change than others, don't worry - positive changes in ANY area tend to improve matters in ALL areas. And over time, small changes can add up to big changes. Can't think of anything you can do to improve your life? Try doing the exercise with your spouse, a friend, or counsellor. Problems such as serious depression or drug addiction will require the help of a health care professional. However, in general, the more active you can be in creating positive changes in your own life, the better. It befits all of us to take charge of making our lives brighter, whatever kind of life it is. Good luck - to us all!
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