February 25th, 2019 | Updated on June 29th, 2022
If you’ve been in a serious accident, you could have post-traumatic stress disorder. Here’s what to look for and tips for overcoming car accident PTSD.
It’s easy to feel invincible when speeding down the freeway. But the truth of the matter is that driving is risky business. There are millions and millions of car accidents a year, ranging from fender benders to the seriously fatal.
A car accident can have a huge impact on your day to day life.
Even if you avoid the serious injuries that plague so many accident survivors, the effect of vehicle-on-vehicle impact can still alter your life. Many car accident survivors suffer from PTSD due to the terrifying and stressful nature of an accident.
If you’ve recently been experiencing car accident PTSD, there are a few things you can do to help recover. Read on for our five most essential tips.
1. Understand The Symptoms
The first, and in some ways the most important, step of recovery is understanding the problem. The effects of car accident PTSD are internal and emotional. As such, they become difficult for many suffering to pinpoint or recognize.
Recognizing and accepting the problem is the first step towards fixing it. If you’ve been experiencing nightmares, flashbacks, or disrupted sleep, these may be due to PTSD. Emotional numbness and avoidance can be symptoms, but so can hyper-arousal and high anxiety.
If you’re experiencing any of these feelings for an extended time following an accident, you likely are experiencing PTSD.
2. Challenge The Idea Of Helplessness
Much of the anxiety that comes with PTSD is associated with a lack of control. Trauma can leave you feeling powerless and vulnerable.
One great way to reclaim power is to find places where you can take control and help others. Take positive steps to help those around you. Volunteering at shelters or charities, or taking any kind of positive action can help restore a proper sense of balance in your life.
3. Seek Professional Help
If you’re really struggling with the effects of PTSD, it can be worth seeing a medical professional for guidance. Weekly discussions with a trained therapist can help slowly work you back towards confidence.
Not all therapy comes cheap, of course. If you’ve experienced PTSD as a result of a car accident, you’ll likely want to contact a personal injury attorney as well. An attorney can help ensure you get compensation to cover such accident associated costs.
4. Exercise More
It may sound over-simplified, but the best way to get over PTSD is to get moving. Exercise releases endorphins and can be a huge help to your mood and outlook.
This exercise can be as simple as a long walk or run in the afternoons, or as involved as rock climbing, ice skating, or martial arts. Spending time out of your home and active can do wonder to increase your mood and state of being.
Recovering From Car Accident PTSD
An accident can be terrifying and traumatizing in more ways than one. If you’re experiencing car accident PTSD, it’s important that you take the proper steps to reintroduce balance and positivity into your life. The above tips can be a great way to get started.
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