When people get involved in a car accident, physical injuries are the first issues to be noticed and addressed. Whether it’s minor scratches and bruises or more serious conditions, timely intervention and adequate medical treatments are crucial to prevent complications and ensure a speedy and effective recovery. Material damages come after in the form of vehicle repairs or replacement, loss of wages, and so on. Usually, these expenses can be covered by claiming compensation – which you can read more about at https://www.personalinjuryclaimsuk.org.uk/.
One might think that once wounds heal, scars fade away, and bills are paid, all is left in the past, and one can move on with life like nothing happened. Unfortunately, things are a bit more complicated than that. Those who were lucky to survive such terrible events know that the road to recovery doesn’t stop when physical injuries are no longer visible. Underneath the bruises and marks lies a silent issue: the emotional and psychological trauma that victims experience in the aftermath of a traffic collision and which can linger on for much longer than expected.
The emotional impact of a car accident
Many times, the emotional impact of a road accident can be just as if not even more distressing than the suffering caused by physical injuries, especially if the symptoms manifest for extended periods of time. The psychological trauma caused by these types of incidents can take on many forms, including:
- Shock – immediately after a car crash, it’s common for victims to experience emotional shock that can last for hours or even days. This is a natural rection of the body as the brain is trying to comprehend what happened and process the event. During this time, some people may have no reaction and feel completed numb or dissociated while others may deal with feelings of panic, range or confusion.
- Stress and anxiety – even after they’ve come to terms with the reality of the car crash, many people continue to struggle with stress and anxiety. It can be particularly difficult for survivors to drive or even travel in a car as passengers. The fear and distress can be so intense that it can get in the way of completing routine tasks and seriously impact the quality of life.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – this is a very concerning health condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Those who develop PTSD after a car crash deal with a range of severe symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, uncontrollable thoughts, difficulty concentrating, irrational behaviour, aggressive outbursts, and so on.
- Depression – the emotional roller-coaster that some feel in the aftermath of a traffic accident can also lead to depression. Some of the signs that a person might be depressed include increased irritability, detachment, isolation, negativism, loss of interest in activities that once brought them joy, impulsivity, use of alcohol and drugs, etc.
- Feelings of guilt – victims may also be consumed with guilt after a collision, replaying the chain of events in their mind and thinking about what they could have done differently to prevent the accident from happening. These feelings are all the more difficult to overcome if there were other victims or fatalities in the car crash.
Coping with psychological trauma post-car crash
It’s certainly not easy to recover mentally from an auto accident. The emotional and psychological effects can be absolutely debilitating and persist for weeks, months, and even years in certain cases. But difficult as it may be, it’s certainly not impossible to learn how to navigate the whirlwind of negative emotions and feelings and get your life back on track. Here’s what you can do if you’ve been involved in a car accident and are trying to overcome the trauma.
Confront your feelings
The first step towards recovery is accepting you have a problem. So, instead of denying or running away from your trauma, you need to find the strength and courage to face it. There’s no shame in admitting to yourself and others that you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, and other issues that are completely normal after a car crash. Talking about these problems openly can bring a sense of relief and make it easier for you to move forward.
Seek professional help
Being surrounded by supportive people who listen to you and are willing to help you in whatever way they can is truly invaluable when trying to recover from a traumatic event. However, despite their noble intentions, friends and family are not skilled medical professionals and might not be able to provide the guidance and support you require. So, if you’re not seeing any progress or if you want to accelerate the healing process, it’s best to seek psychological assistance from a qualified therapist.
Practice self-care
There are also plenty of things that fall in the self-care category and that you can do on your own to improve your mental and emotional state. Given that car crashes often result in increased stress and anxiety, it can be helpful to explore and try different relaxation techniques. Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, meditation, or yoga are some of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety and bring back a sense of peace and balance into your life. Getting a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy diet are also important aspects to focus on that can benefit your well-being.
Be patient
The recovery process looks different for everyone, and it can be longer or shorter, depending on your personal circumstances. Therefore, you should give yourself time to heal and accept the fact that it might take longer than you’d like. Progress might be slow and frustrating, but the important thing is to keep going and trust that you’ll get better.
In the end, recovering from trauma is a personal journey that requires patience, perseverance, and self-compassion. Keep these things in mind when the going gets tough.
