#5 Take an active part
in your healing process
Be conscientious about your physical
therapy. Follow the doctor's advice
closely. Don’t cut corners. Work as
hard with your rehab as you did in
your training. In addition, practice
using healing imagery on a daily
basis. If you're recovering from a
broken bone or separated shoulder,
spend 5-10 minutes imagining that
bone or shoulder beginning to heal.
"See" in your mind's eye a healthy
supply of red blood cells surrounding
that area and facilitating the mending process. I can't scientifically guarantee that this will speed up your
healing. However, I can promise you
that this will make you feel less helpless, more in control and much more
positive. These attitudinal changes in
themselves will speed up your healing.
#6 Continue to work out.
If your injury allows you to still continue any part of your training, do
so! If not, "practice" mentally. Use
mental rehearsal on a daily basis (5
-10 minutes at a time) to see, hear
and feel yourself performing, executing lifts with proper form. Take
this time to also mentally work on
your weaknesses. Regular mental
rehearsal of your exercises will keep
the neuromuscular connections activated so that when you are able to
actually begin physical train, you will
not have lost as much.
#7 Seek out the
support of other athletes
Participate in contest prep workshops or other similar events. Fight
the urge to isolate yourself. You
may feel worthless and suddenly
different, but chances are good that
you're probably the only one that
shares that opinion. The worst thing
for you to do when you’re in a vulnerable state is to separate yourself
from your peer group. Make a serious effort to reach out rather than
pull in!
#8 If necessary
seek out a counselor
If you are really depressed for an
extended period of time, have lost
interest in things that use to excite
you, have noticed that your sleep and
eating patterns have changed seek
professional help! Don’t fool around
here. If you’re having these kinds of
symptoms this means that you have
really lost perspective and you are in
need of some qualified, outside support. Seeking out the help of a professional therapist or counselor is not
a sign of weakness. On the contrary,
it’s a sign of strength.
#9 Be patient
If your injury is temporary, allow
yourself enough time to heal properly. If you're over anxious to get
back to the gym and rush the healing process, then you may set yourself up for another, more serious injury which may cost you even more
time. Rushing the healing process
so that you can get back a week or
two earlier is “penn