Looking after your mental health
Having a spinal cord injury can have a significant impact on many areas of your life, not just your physical health. It is common to experience a range of emotional reactions, such as:
- Anxiety, fear, or worry
- Stress or feeling overwhelmed
- Low mood, lack of motivation, or hopelessness
- Anger or disbelief
- Grief or a sense of loss
- Regret, guilt, or self-blame
- Emotionally numb or disconnected
- Upsetting memories or flashbacks to the event that led to your SCI
Different emotions might come up as you move through your recovery, rehabilitation, and transition to life at home. Just because these experiences are common, it does not mean that every person will experience them all.
As well as difficult emotions, people can also experience personal growth after SCI. Facing such a challenge can prompt you to evaluate what is important in your life and the kind of person that you want to be.
Further down the page, you can find some links to support and advice around your mental health and psychological wellbeing after SCI.
Adjustment and acceptance
Living with SCI often means finding a “new normal” and it can often take some time to adjust. Psychological acceptance does not mean having to like the fact you have had a spinal cord injury. Instead, it is about staying true to your values, no matter what difficult thoughts or feelings show up for you.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychological therapy that can be helpful in improving psychological wellbeing among people with SCI. It is based on the idea that thoughts and feelings are not inherently bad or wrong, but that attempting to control or avoid them can lead you away from the kind of life you want to live and the person that you want to be.
There are three key messages:
What can help?
There are lots of different ways to support your psychological wellbeing after SCI. The best strategy usually involves multiple approaches alongside each other.
A Psychologist, Counsellor, or other mental health professional can support you to understand why you are feeling the way you are, and to develop helpful coping strategies.
Many people find antidepressant medication can help to lift their mood and improve motivation. Speak to your GP if you would like to discuss your options for medication.
Good quality sleep is beneficial for emotional processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive function (thinking and memory).
Purposeful movement triggers the body to release “feel-good” chemicals similar to those involved in antidepressant and pain-relieving medication, helps to support sleep, and gives you a mood-boosting sense of achievement.
Friends and family can offer valuable emotional and practical support.
Speaking to other people with SCI can help you to feel less isolated and to learn from how others have coped with similar challenges. The Spinal Injuries Association has information about local support networks and community groups for people with SCI.
Where to get help
- NHS Talking Therapies – self-refer for support with managing common mental health difficulties like anxiety, stress, and depression
Find an NHS talking therapies services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Spinal Injuries Association – telephone counselling for people with SCI and their friends, families, and carers
Spinal Cord Injury And Mental Health – SCI Counselling | SIA
- Back Up – peer mentoring for people with SCI
Mentoring for people affected by spinal cord injury | Back Up (backuptrust.org.uk)
- Aspire – practical help for people with SCI (including housing and financial advice)
Aspire supports people with Spinal Cord Injury
- Cauda Equina Champions – practical, psychological, and peer support for people with cauda equina syndrome
Our Services Archive – Cauda Equina Champions Charity
Keeping yourself safe
Research by the Spinal Injuries Association (2021) has shown that people with SCI are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than the general population. If you have been feeling this way, it is important to know that you are not alone and that help is available.
Please see your GP to find out what NHS support is available to you locally. You can also seek emotional support 24/7 from the following organisations:
- The Samaritans listening service – freephone 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org
- Shout text support service – text “SHOUT” to 85258 (free)
To access urgent support please contact NHS 111, and in an emergency please call 999 or attend your local A&E department.
Information on other services can be found here:
More Resources:
- Spinal Injuries Association:
Living With Spinal Cord Injury – Our Knowledge Hub | SIA
Spinal Cord Injury And Mental Health – SCI Counselling | SIA
Back to work and education (nsic-online.org.uk)
- Model Systems Knowledge Translation Centre (factsheets available in other languages)
Adjusting to Life after Spinal Cord Injury | MSKTC
