A person involved in a car accident will always experience an emotional or mental effect regardless of how minor or major the physical injuries are. Sometimes, it’s this emotional trauma that may last longer even after the physical injuries have already healed.
According to experts in auto clinic Hialeah, there are treatments that may help a patient after a car accident. However, it’s not so easy to determine if someone has been suffering from emotional trauma. In fact, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety has revealed that 60 percent of car accident victims are likely to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may need a mental health intervention.
Common Emotional Reactions After a Car Accident
It’s normal for a car accident victim to be in a state of shock. They cry, appear fearful, or angry and hysterical as a natural response to what just happened. These emotional outbursts may usually be accompanied by physical symptoms like body trembling, heart-pounding, sweating, and rapid breathing.
However, some car accident victims may react in a completely opposite way and feel like they must take charge of the situation. These are the ones that have seemingly have the presence of mind and the calmness to discuss and negotiate with the other party, or document the car accident, or talk to witnesses right at the scene. They may even be bold enough to talk to the traffic police officer or medical respondents.
Once things have settled down, though, these car victims who seemingly have it together might suddenly feel a state of shock washing over them as a delayed reaction. And it is precisely this reaction that could descend into an emotional issue like anxiety or trauma.
Concerning Symptoms of Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident
A study published in the American Psychological Association revealed some of the common indicators of emotional trauma as a result of a car accident, and these are:
- Avoidance behavior, such as refusing to get inside a car
- Feeling on the edge when driving or riding a vehicle
- Feeling anxious
- Suppression of thoughts or the opposite of it, such as replaying the accident repeatedly in the patient’s mind
- Perceiving that the person’s life is perennially in danger
- Being watchful and habitually scanning what’s around him or her
Over time, these symptoms normally subside when the accident becomes a thing of the past and the car accident victim goes back to his daily routines. But when the victim is still feeling the symptoms after three months, or worse, the symptoms have aggravated and have not improved at all, then it could be an indication of a PTSD. When this happens, the best thing to do is to seek a professional’s help.
Dealing With Emotional Trauma After a Car Accident
PTSD is often associated with military personnel who have experienced combat. However, it is not exclusive to soldiers alone as this mental condition may also be triggered when a person is unable to process an extremely traumatic event, such as a car accident, according to Mental Health America.
Seeing a Doctor at auto clinic in Hialeah
It is important to be able to talk to someone when a car accident victim is dealing with emotional trauma. It might be difficult in the beginning but discussing feelings with family members, close friends and confidantes, a counselor, or a medical doctor can help with the recovery process and avoid PTSD.
If you have been involved in an auto accident, we strongly encourage you to visit our auto clinic in Hialeah or Contact Us today to receive the care that you need and deserve. For your convenience, you can book an appointment online. For inquiries, call us at (305) 200-1225.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
