The Unseen Side Effects Of A Car Crash
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Car accidents happen a lot more often than we care to admit. Being in a crash can drastically change your life and in ways that may not be obvious at first. After a car accident, it is important to have a doctor check for any external or internal injuries you may have suffered from. Many internal injuries can go unnoticed until it's too late and it's better to be safe than sorry. However, there is another type of injury that may go unnoticed after a car crash. Many do not realize the mental side effects that can follow after you have been in an accident. It is certainly understandable that someone may not be too eager to get back behind the wheel again after an accident. You might have others drive you around for awhile or find yourself feeling nervous when you witness someone else in a crash. It may feel like very minor symptoms, but they don't necessarily end there. After a car crash, you could find yourself getting flashbacks, nightmares, uncontrollable thoughts about the accident, and severe anxiety. If you were the one behind the wheel, you may feel overwhelmed with feelings of guilt even if it wasn't your fault.
The length and severity of symptoms does vary a bit from person to person. Most people will have trouble adjusting and coping at first, but will recover without too much trouble. However, when these symptoms last for months and interfere with your ability to function, you may have a serious mental condition called Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Normally, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is only thought of for soldiers, but that it is not limited to war experiences. This disorder can result from any event that caused a person to witness or experience a terrifying event. Even a minor car crash where no injuries were suffered can still result in terrible fear and anxiety. In fact, traffic accidents have become one of the most common causes of PSTD as well as PTSD-like reactions.
PSTD is a serious mental condition and can make it hard to function normally. You find yourself feeling like your in constant danger and certain triggers can cause you to feel like your reliving the accident all over again. This can hurt your ability to socialize with others, continue working, and being able to care for yourself.
Other mental disorders can also develop after a car crash including depression, persistent anxiety, and phobias. Though these disorders can work along side PTSD, they can just as easily exist in those without PTSD symptoms and can be just as severe.
Your mental state is just as important as your physical health. If your having trouble coping with your accident, don't hesitate to seek help. Even if your symptoms do not seem severe, talking with a mental health professional can let you understand why you feel this way and keep it from worsening later on.
We can help too! If you find your mental condition has made it impossible to get back to work and support yourself, make sure to talk to us about getting the disability benefits you need. We know how traumatic a car crash can be and we want to help you get your life back together. Don't let your mental state get in the way of your financial needs. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our lawyers.