A car accident can be a harrowing experience. Apart from the damage to the car, there are chances of major or minor injuries to the driver and the passengers. While the physical injuries may be more apparent, there are also instances where the accident sufferers develop a mental health condition that may include recurring thoughts about the incident, accompanied by feelings of distress or anxiety. In 2020, as many as 13 million Americans had PTSD. Women are more likely to experience PTSD than men. They may even experience flashbacks regarding the event and want to avoid similar situations in the future. These psychological symptoms of distress are called post-traumatic stress disorder.
Common Signs of PTSD After a Car Accident
Signs of post-traumatic stress disorder may be experienced in the days or weeks following the incident. If memories of the accident stay with you a month after the event, you are most likely experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. This situation can last for as long as a year and must be treated properly.
1. Recalling the Incident
One of the first signs of PTSD is that you get flashbacks of the incident in your mind. It’s like going through the entire episode once again. These flashbacks can be triggered by any external stimuli, like noises or situations while driving. For instance, if you hit a bump in the road or are hit by a car from behind, it is likely to trigger a flashback.
2. Sensitivity to Emotions
You can develop conditions of hypersensitivity. This can include heightened reaction to events, leading to constant vigilance on the road and scanning the environment for perceived threats. Even common situations such as a car honking can trigger a panic.
3. Feeling Anxious
You may feel very anxious even long after the incident has occurred. This feeling may exist when you are entering or exiting a vehicle. It may trouble you whether you are a driver or a passenger. This feeling of anxiety can also expand further, leading to general feelings of worry whenever faced with a new or unfamiliar situation.
4. Thoughts of Suicide
People experiencing PTSD after a car accident may feel like taking their own lives and that the world would be better off without them. This is especially felt if the person themselves caused the car accident, which may have resulted in serious or fatal injuries for the other party or occupants of the vehicle. They may feel that their families should not have to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
5. Difficulty Sleeping
Those experiencing PTSD may have difficulty sleeping since it may trigger recalling the incident or even cause nightmares. They may even develop symptoms of insomnia, leading to the inability to sleep or relax. On the other end, some individuals may want to sleep excessively to avoid thinking about the incident since it is constantly on their minds.
6. Feelings of Anger
A person having PTSD symptoms can often feel angry with themselves for causing the accident. They may feel guilty if they injured or killed someone else as a result of the incident. Anger is usually expressed as a means to hide the deeper psychological pain.
7. Avoiding the Situation
This is a very common symptom of those who have psychological trauma following a car accident. They may refuse to drive altogether or even stay in a car as a passenger. They may avoid the place where the accident occurred because it brings to mind unpleasant memories.
8. Fatigue
As you can imagine, the person experiencing PTSD can end up feeling really tired, as it takes a lot of effort to deal with the situation.
How to Deal With PTSD After The Accident
The best way to deal with such a situation is to use medication, cognitive behavior therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy that helps people come to terms with the incident and focus on the positive. Don’t wait, but seek help as soon as possible if you are suffering from PTSD symptoms. Seek legal guidance from a personal injury lawyer who can help you claim compensation, as well as a therapist who can get you back on the road to recovery.