The Importance of Journaling During Your Personal Injury Recovery

Journaling is a great way to memorialize your thoughts. From what you ate, to vacation ideas, to how you feel when you roll out of bed, a journal can provide a great reference point when you are trying to refresh your recollection. If you have suffered an injury as a result of a Vermont car accident or other type of personal injury, a disciplined journal of your treatment and symptoms can be key in properly advocating for a just resolution of your claim against the responsible party.

Tell Your Whole Story Not Just Your Story of Pain

A personal journal should not just surround your injury and treatment, it should cover all aspects of your life. This provides more context for how you have lived your life both before and after the injury, which can be used to compare the new limitations you may suffer as a result of the injury. A narrative form of journaling can also add authenticity to the limitations you may suffer (Ex. “before the incident, I was playing golf 3 days a week and taking 60 minutes of Yoga. After the incident, I am unable to walk more than 9 holes and my Yoga classes are non existent because of the pain in my back”).

Describe How Things Feel

Journaling is a great way to put into words the type of feeling you are experiencing not just its existence. “A burning sensation that runs down my leg, forcing me to sit down” provides far more context then simply stating “pain in my leg”.

Articulate Your Response to the Pain

Pain is not simply the existence of discomfort, it is also the response to it. If dizzy spells have forced you to stop reading, or you have had to sit down while playing in your yard with your kids because of a sudden back spasm, it is important to note this. The fact that your life has changed due to this injury can be as, or more important, then the pain itself.

Journal Every Day

Don’t let excuses get in the way of your spending at least a couple minutes each day reducing your thoughts and feelings to paper. Studies have found that journaling can have a substantial positive effect on your emotional well being.

If you are also enduring a personal injury, the positive impact can be even further enhanced. Ensuring that you are able to recount the entire recovery progress in a way that is both credible and expansive well greatly assist you in advocating for a fair resolution of your personal injury claim.

This article is for informational purposes only. If you need specific legal advice, seek out your own private attorney.