Mental Health After a Car Accident

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Checking Your Mental Health After an Accident Automobile accidents are one of the most common, yet overlooked sources of psychological trauma.

Transcript of Mental Health After a Car Accident

Page 1: Mental Health After a Car Accident

Checking Your Mental Health

After an Accident

Automobile accidents are one of the most common, yet overlooked sources

of psychological trauma.

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Most people will be involved in an automobile accident at some point in

their life

Luckily, a lot of accidents aren’t fatal, but what most people don’t think about are the mental effects that

often cause more harm than the physical, and can take much longer to recover from.

Even the most minor incident has the ability to cause long term anxiety, fears,

and phobias about driving.

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How it Happens

But it’s not the fact that determine whether an event is traumatic or not. What matters is your own emotional

experience of the event.

It was once assumed that people who have more severe physical injuries from car accidents are more

likely to have psychological issues as well.

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Sometimes, it Happens Quickly

A doctor can usually diagnose how long it will take to recover from physical injuries but the

problem with psychological damage is there is no way to tell how long it will last. In typical cases it takes about three months to a year.

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Sometimes,it Doesn’t

All too often, victims are stuck with persistent issues and anxiety disorders which don’t develop until after the accident,

sometimes even after the physical injuries have healed

And surprisingly, most people who get persistent anxiety weren’t drivers, but passengers in the accident.

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What is a Mental Injury?

Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of an extraordinarily stressful event that shatters your sense of security, making you feel helpless

and vulnerable. It’s usually life threatening, but any situation that makes you feel

overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn’t cause physical harm.

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What are the Signs?

You may even be nervous when passing the site of the accident, seeing similar road conditions, or traveling in the vehicle involved in the accident or even just seeing a similar car.

You may be anxious when driving or riding in cars, or even avoid cars altogether.

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How Bad Can it Get?

Although most people associate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with soldiers after they have been to war, it

is now widely recognized that PTSD symptoms can arise in any person that has survived a traumatic

event, car accidents being one of the leading causes.

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, causes depression, hopelessness, and a

general inability to feel positive emotions.

Victims feel the need to replay the experience over and over again in their head.

They also tend to avoid anything associated with the accident in any way, shape, or form.

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When to Seek Help

Mental distress from a car accident is common to an extent. But if two to three months have gone by and

you still avoid certain driving situations, have persistent thoughts or dreams about the accident, or

are still experiencing any bad feelings that aren’t normal for you, you should seek help from someone

qualified in PTSD treatment.

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How to Cope

Other than talking to someone, all you can really do is take care of yourself.

Even if you don’t feel that your symptoms are severe enough to seek professional help, it can’t hurt to talk about your experience with loved ones.

• Exercise regularly

• Rest plenty

• Keep a routine

•Stay active

•Surround yourself with support

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Let us handle all your auto repair needs.

We’ll even talk to your insurance company for you.

You have enough to worry about…

Call Bellmawr Collision today at:

856-939-4000Or visit our shop:

60 W Clements Br idge Rd, Runnemede , NJ 08078