Recovering from a Car Accident: How to Identify and Deal with PTSD
When you hear about recovering from a car accident, physical therapy might be what comes to mind. Psychological trauma is not what most people think of with motor vehicle accidents. With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), usually, your first thought will go straight to a warzone. Although, did you know the number one cause of PTSD is motor vehicle crashes1? Shocking, isn’t it?
Beyond the police report, car insurance claim, or your vehicle at the repair shop, there could be other things on your mind. Now, consider just how many auto accidents there are a day and think of all the potential PTSD sufferers out there. How many of these people even know they’re suffering?
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health disorder that develops in response to either experiencing or even witnessing a shocking, scary, or dangerous event, such as recovering from a car accident.
Events can be life-threatening situations, but not always. This is where PTSD gets difficult because it’s personal. It all depends on how someone perceives the event, especially if they’ve had an experience with similar trauma.
PTSD can be devastating.
It can affect your ability to drive, take the bus, return to work, think rationally, or even leave your house. The disorder can be tricky to identify because symptoms are sometimes normalized or even trivialized. Since PTSD isn’t something you can see, you might not even realize what you’re experiencing. It might be preventing you from seeking treatment or realizing how mentally unhealthy you are.
Now, let’s talk about PTSD symptoms that could appear as you’re recovering from a car accident.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms vary, but generally fall into four categories: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
1. Intrusive memories:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Emotional stress to reminders of the incident (or accident scene)
2. Avoidance
- Avoiding people, places, and activities that remind you of the incident
- Trying not to think of the traumatic event
3. Negative changes in thinking and mood:
- Hopelessness, emotionally numb
- Feeling detached from family and friends
- Lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Problems with memory
- Negative thoughts about yourself, others, or the world
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Bitterness or anger because of personal injury or pain from the event or accident
4. Changes in physical and emotional reactions:
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Always on guard for danger
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior
- Overwhelming guilt or shame
Recovering From a Car Accident Self-Help
I’m experiencing some of these symptoms as I am recovering from a car accident. Now what?
Having or being at risk for developing PTSD doesn’t necessarily mean you experience all of these symptoms (2). Sometimes you can manage symptoms on your own.
Ways to help:
- Learning relaxation skills
- Breathing exercises
- Grounding exercises
- Facing your fears
Check out the American PTSD Association for other strategies to help with managing symptoms on your own. Other times, self-help strategies for car accident recovery just aren’t enough.
Recovering From a Car Accident
PTSD can be overwhelming and it’s not uncommon to need help to recover. If this is the case, talk to your doctor, psychologist, or other health professional. Ask to be screened for PTSD and create a treatment plan. Recovery time for every person can look drastically different due to many factors.
Early intervention is key.
Usually, when someone’s been involved in a motor vehicle crash, people will look at their physical injuries or damage to the car. Often, psychological car accident injuries like anxiety and PTSD are overlooked. All too often, it’s MONTHS later when a person is not returning to their daily activities that people start paying attention to someone’s emotional well-being, post-crash.
The longer you wait, the more difficult and longer the recovery process is for PTSD.
If you’re suffering from PTSD, it’s time to get help and get on the road to recovery. Start the healing process now with the right post-trauma screenings and tests available at Agile Screening.
For more information or any questions regarding PTSD from car accidents and proper testing, contact Agile Screening today.
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