If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you’ll know that recovery can take a little time. Whether you’ve been injured or are struggling with emotional distress, you need to give yourself time to recover and build up the courage to get back behind the wheel. Recovery will be different for everyone, but here are some tips to help. 

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If you have been injured in any way, remember that you may be entitled to compensation, and if your injuries have prevented you from working, you might be able to claim a social security allowance. A social security lawyer can help you to get this. 

1. Follow your Doctor’s instructions. In the first few days of recovery, it’s vital that you follow the instructions and recommendations of your doctor. Throughout the recovery process, keep seeing them and follow what they tell you to avoid causing further damage to yourself or prolonging your recovery. They can give you tips for routines and exercises to help you recover faster. 
2. Rest and stay hydrated. After a car accident, the best form of recovery for both physical and emotional stress is plenty of rest. Your body needs rest to start healing itself and to give your mind time to recover. Rest and staying hydrated lets your body produce the important healing cells it needs to repair any damage and lets it focus just on the healing, speeding up your recovery. 
3. Exercise. Exercise can also help a healing body. Speak with your doctor to create a safe, gentle exercise routine that will build up your strength again. Never start a routine without your doctor’s agreement, and start slowly. Gentle stretching or yoga can be a good place to start. 
4. Consider physiotherapy. This is a whole-body approach to healing. Physiotherapy combines stretches, exercise, and diet to achieve and maintain healing benefits. Ask your doctor to refer you for a consultation. 
5. Eat healthily. By eating a healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and protein, your body has the tools to start healing itself. If you’re eating well, you can boost your body’s natural healing powers, decreasing the time of recovery needed. 
6. Give yourself plenty of time. Recovery can be very different for different people and doesn’t always go in a straight line. Try not to become frustrated if it feels like you haven’t got anywhere or are going backward. Don’t force yourself to return to your normal activities before you’re ready to do so. Pushing yourself too far too soon could mean you injure yourself further and actually end up needing even more time to recover. 
7. Listen to your body. If you’re trying a new exercise routine or another healing tool, go slowly and keep listening to your body. If you need more rest, take it. Try to give your body what it needs to heal itself, and remember to keep listening to your doctor. 

The best way to heal after an accident is to be kind to yourself and give yourself time and rest to recover.