Many people in New Castle who have never been involved in car accidents assume the only injuries they should worry about are the ones they physically sustain. They may not realize crashes often cause considerable damage to the human psyche. Before you fall prey to the same assumption, take a few moments of your time to consider how a car accident can cause you to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Car accident victims often experience a myriad of emotions after their collisions that can linger on far longer than they anticipate. These emotions include feelings of distress, stress, anxiety, fear and shock. It is not uncommon for some accident victims to also experience anger, grief and guilt.
How PTSD develops
Not all car accidents result in bodily injury. As physically traumatizing as a car accident can be, sometimes, the only sign of trauma a victim may experience is mental. Their feelings may affect every waking thought they have, making it hard for them to function normally and perform daily tasks. Some people experience so much emotional turmoil after their accidents they develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
Factors that can increase the risk of PTSD
There are no set criteria to determine which individuals will develop PTSD after car accidents. However, there are some risk factors that may increase a person’s chances of developing it. These include high-stress levels, anxiety and certain mental disorders.
People suffering from car accident-induced PTSD are usually unable to get back in the driver’s seat. Their feelings do not go away or lessen in severity as they should. Instead, they affect every aspect of the victims’ lives. It is necessary for victims to pay attention to their emotions and seek out psychological help to prevent the condition from manifesting itself physically and compromising their health.
If you are ever in motor vehicle collision, regardless of who is at fault, get checked by a medical professional for physical and emotional injuries. Even if you initially feel fine after your checkup or start to feel feelings you did not feel before that interfere with your ability to operate your vehicle or life, see a mental health specialist and consider speaking to an attorney for guidance.