Do not overlook the psychological effects of losing a limb

If you lose a limb in a workplace accident, the consequences could be far worse than you realize. Most people only think about the physical or financial effects. Losing a limb will make mobility more difficult. It will prevent you from carrying out specific tasks. You may be left unable to work due to this and need to claim disability benefits. However, what most people fail to consider is the massive psychological effect losing a limb can have.

There is no way of knowing how amputation will affect someone. It depends on how it happened, as well as the individual. These are some of the effects you may not have considered:

• Guilt: Some, especially women, report feeling they deserved to lose the limb as punishment for something in their past.

• Depression: Studies found around one-third of amputees suffered from depression. Many have experienced suicidal feelings and attempted to kill themselves.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): While most people worry about something, sometimes it becomes more chronic. If you struggle to sleep, cannot concentrate or always feel tense, it may be due to the amputation.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): For years after the accident, people may wake at nights with flashbacks of the event. It can also feed into anxiety or depression.

• Body image issues: People may feel they are no longer desirable. The fact that people in the street may stare does not help.

• Sexual dysfunction: This can arise as a result of altered body image.

Seek assistance if you have suffered an amputation at work. It is vital you seek adequate compensation and not accept the first offer from the insurers. The consequences may be far more costly to your health and your family’s life than you can imagine.