The journey of recovering from a spinal cord injury (SCI) is often described as a roller coaster ride with a lot of ups and downs. The early days of rehabilitation are marked by intense focus, rapid learning, and visible progress. However, as time goes on, many individuals experience a phase of stagnancy—a period where progress slows, and the path forward seems unclear. This stagnancy phase can be mentally and emotionally challenging, leading to feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and even mental breakdowns.
Understanding the reasons behind this phase, recognizing the symptoms and learning how to overcome it can make a significant difference in this challenging part of recovery journey.
Reasons and Symptoms
The Stagnancy phase can be caused because of various reasons. Sometimes, it can be personal, phycological or physical depending upon the situation. We will walk you through some of the reasons to make you understand better about this phase.
- Personal reasons
- Financial issues
- Relationship issues
- Sympathy or not able to accept the fate
- No remarkable physical improvement
- Bored of same routine/repeated exercises
- Dependency on others
- Overthinking or no signs of a promising future
The stagnancy phase can be one of the most difficult times in a individual’s recovery as it not only tests physical resilience but also mental and emotional endurance. This phase can affect the individual in various ways, and recognizing the symptoms is important for addressing and managing it effectively. So, pointing down some of the symptoms of stagnancy phase in the SCI recovery.
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Loss of interest
- Growing sense of irritation
- Continuous negative thoughts
- Difficulty in concentrating
Overcoming the stagnancy phase
Every individual has a different way to tackle this challenging phase of their SCI journey. So, its very important for every individual to understand how to navigate through this phase to overcome it . Additionally, it is equally important to understand that this phase is a part of SCI journey to maintain the momentum and keep going with the recovery journey.
Here are some strategies for dealing with the obstacles that arise during this though phase :
- Normalize the stagnancy phase:
One of the first steps in dealing with the challenges of the stagnancy phase is recognizing that it is a normal part of the recovery process. During this phase, it’s important to remind yourself that this is a natural part of healing, not a sign of failure.
Understanding that stagnation is temporary can help alleviate the frustration and demotivation that often accompany it. Furthermore, it is equally important to understand that recovery is not a straight line. There will be ups and downs, good days and bad days. On some days you feel more enthusiastic but on other days you feel like you are not achieving anything. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t make progress in future. So, to ensure recovery it is important to keep going with your rehabilitation no matter whatever the situation is. - Set Small Goals:
During the stagnancy phase, it is very common to feel like you are not making any progress or achieving any goal. Apparently, this can lead to demotivation and a sense of defeat.
So, to deal with this feeling, try setting new, smaller and achievable goals. Achieving these goals can help you boost you morale and provide you a sense of accomplishment. - Seek Help:
Reach out to your family, friends or health care providers for support because isolation can intensify the felling of hopelessness. Talking to your nearest and dearest will give a ray of hope and will also provide the determination to keep going with the recovery journey. - Try to change your regular routine/ exercise routine:
The same, repeated routine every day can contribute to the feelings of stagnation thus to overcome this try to include variety into your daily routine. It can be achieved by trying new exercises, indulging yourself into a hobby or exploring new interests like music or yoga. - Acknowledge your feelings
It is very important to acknowledge yours feeling no matter whatever it is. It’s ok to feel sad, irritated or frustrated as it is a natural response of the challenges you are facing.
Acknowledging your feelings is not a sign of weakness; rather it’s an essential part of healing process. - Spiritual Approach
This can be a game changer for many people as it can change your perspective about a lot of things. Just accept the situation and try to move on from there. Additionally it is essential to have faith in yourself as your thoughts plays a major role in how others would perceive you.
Conclusion
The Stagnancy phase in SCI recovery is a difficult but common part of the SCI journey. By recognizing the right strategies one can navigate through this challenging time with strength and determination. Remember, recovery is not always about making big strides; sometimes it’s about finding the strength to keep going, even when progress seems slow. With patience, perseverance and believe in yourself you can overcome the challenges of this phase and continue moving forward on your path to recovery.