Psychological Aspects
Many amputees experience the emotions of shock, denial, grief, anxiety, depression, and eventually adjustment.
Amputation is a tragedy. But, the person is the same person before and after the amputation. Life is still worth living after amputation. To combat the feelings of grief, the amputee may benefit from professional counseling and mental health doctors. The combination of physical and mental trauma of amputation can actually create chemical imbalances in the body that impede mental recovery (Gallagher, MacLachlan).
The grieving process of losing a limb can continue for years because it is not just a limb it is a part of someone. For many amputees, the biggest challenge is to overcome the self-doubts that accompany the loss of a limb (Nichols).
Successful sports participation builds self-confidence and can positively affect personal growth and development of an amputee (Gallagher, MacLachlan).
After a patient is confronted with the fitting of a prosthetic limb they are forced to deal with the fact that they have lost a limb and must now adjust to wearing a prosthesis. They must make several physical, behavioral, and even emotional adjustments to cope with the multiple aspects of the amputation. As amputees begin to strengthen themselves, they develop a security in their physical abilities. However, the focus now shifts to learning how to survive emotionally with limb loss (Gallagher).