Now What? I've Obtained a Document of Continuity; How Else Should I Prepare for the Resolution of a Mississippi Maritime Injury?

 

A: Now What? I've Obtained a Document of Continuity; How Else Should I Prepare for the Resolution of a Mississippi Maritime Injury?
If you're a seaman who suffered a Mississippi martime injury- and you've followed the information and steps we outlined in a previous blog post or library article- you're probably well on your way towards obtaining a Document of Continuity. But what other steps can you take, physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically, to heal faster from your injury and get back to ship shape, so to speak?

Here are three ideas:

1. Mentally prepare for going back on the water.
Many injured seamen get caught in a loop of catastrophic thinking and spend very little time focussing on "best case scenarios." This is a problem with an easy fix. Every day, spend time imagining going back to work, how it'll feel to be healthy again, etc.
2. Acknowledge your limitations and alter your vocation to align with your new reality.
If you permanently injured your spine or lost a digit in a maritime accident, you may be unable to go back to doing the work that you used to do. That can be depressing if you look at it from a certain perspective. But it can also lead to career innovation. For instance, maybe you did heavy labor, working 14 hours a day, before you got hurt. You can't go back to that kind of work. But you might be able to take on a managerial job earning more money while working fewer hours. Sounds good, doesn't it?
3. Obtain resources, cultivate relationships, and avoid the "Go it alone" syndrome.
According to Keith Ferrazzi, author of the book "Never Eat Alone," our social connections are far more important than many of us realize. Relationships lead us to new resources, help us develop new insights into our problems, and help us deal with emotional setbacks. As a seaman, you probably intuitively understand this concept. You could never survive out in the wilds of the deep ocean without a good crew at your side.
But injured seamen often lose this camaraderie and suffer grievously for its lack. So, combat this by staying in touch with your coworkers. Spend time with your family. Reach out and allow yourself to connect with support systems, resources, and others who can guide you. If you need help with legal questions or issues, the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can help. Connect with us online at www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com.