We often overlook the signs of mental health problems, dismissing them as mere stress, assuming they’ll pass soon. This tendency is even stronger when we’re dealing with a big event like a car accident or a severe sports injury, which naturally cause anxiety. Even a minor car accident can elevate stress levels.
After such incidents, it’s common to experience depression, anxiety, and other uncomfortable symptoms. It’s crucial to recognize what’s typical and what signals the need to talk to a therapist. PTSD is one mental health issue that’s not well understood. Many people think you can only develop PTSD from extremely traumatic events like war or kidnapping, but it can actually result from less extreme situations. The sudden death of a family member, for example, can trigger PTSD. Symptoms can appear shortly after the event or even years later, and they fall into categories like “re-avoiding symptoms” (such as flashbacks and bad dreams) and “avoidance symptoms” (like steering clear of experiences or places that stir up memories of the trauma).
A person involved in a severe car accident might avoid driving on highways. Activities related to the trauma, like calling your insurance company or going to the gym where you were injured, can also cause anxiety. PTSD symptoms can vary; you might feel okay for a while, then suddenly get overwhelmed by memories. If you feel you’re losing control or have disturbing thoughts that persist for over a month, it’s important to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional. Suicidal thoughts should be addressed immediately with professional assistance.
Depending on the accident, there may be legal options to explore. If the other driver was negligent, you might consider consulting an accident attorney to discuss a personal injury claim. Legal action can sometimes affirm that the accident wasn’t your fault and that you deserve compensation, although not everyone is comfortable with the process.
Regardless, getting a free consultation with a lawyer might be worth considering. If legal avenues aren’t for you, there are other ways to move forward. Severe injuries, especially sports-related ones, often mean time spent in the hospital and perhaps physical therapy. Programs in allied health can help you use your experience to aid others, turning a tough situation into something positive by helping people in need.
No matter what caused your injury, it’s possible to recover and lead a healthy life.
