After an accident, doctors usually look at the physical condition of the victim and mend what is broken. But not every injury sustained in a car accident is visible. Some people suffer great mental conditions following the financial strain and trauma an accident causes.

A lawyer at Lopez and Humphries acknowledges that the law warrants compensation for emotional distress following an accident. Since your psychological condition is just as important as your physical condition, it’s important to seek medical help if you are suffering from any of the following effects:

What Are the Psychological Impacts of Being in a Car Accident?

1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that develops after any traumatic event. It’s a common psychological condition with army officers working in active war zones. The unforeseen and gruesome nature of car accidents is very traumatic for both the people in the car accident, the witnesses, and first responders.

There are signs to look out for if you think you might have PTSD. They include insomnia, depression, withdrawal, flashback, inability to focus, irritability, flashback and nightmares, anxiety, fear of loud noises, etc. PTSD can take a while after the accident to manifest.

To reduce the symptoms, it’s better if you talk to someone immediately following the accident. Talking through your feelings and possibly taking medication can help you heal faster.

2. Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression can be symptoms of accident-related PTSD or mental conditions on their own. They are very commonly diagnosed among car accident victims because of the shock they experience after the fact. Shock after an accident often turns to anxiety if left untreated.

When you experience symptoms like lethargy or difficulty in focusing, you might want to seek professional help. Symptoms of depression include isolation, withdrawal, intense feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. These mental conditions require intense therapy and sometimes medication before things go back to normal. TMS for depression has been extremely effective in recent years.

3. Changes in Quality of Life

Some people face debilitating injuries from car accidents that in turn affect how they used to do things. Temporary or permanent disability can affect one’s psychological well-being because it changes how a person lives their life.

Disability can interfere with a person’s ability to take care of themselves, go to work, play with their pets and children, participate in physical hobbies, be independent, etc. The loss of a life you knew can lead to you hating your life. This is especially true if there are scars or loss of limbs that will always remind you of the life you once had.

4. Loss of Income

Accidents usually take a financial toll on the family due to the medical bills and other repairs that they are responsible for after. Even after filing a personal injury lawsuit, the case may take a long time before it’s resolved before the victim receives compensation. The inability of the victim to provide for his or her family due to injuries can take a toll on them mentally.

Having a support system that can step in when you are financially in a bind can help alleviate the stress. Your employer might also help you depending on their policies. You need to talk about your concerns instead of letting them eat you up inside. 

How to Support Car Accident Victims 

For family members and friends, it’s important to show their support to the victim throughout this difficult journey. It’s important that they don’t take withdrawal, irritability, and other behavioral changes to heart because it’s not their fault. Listening when the victim wants to talk can be more than enough in most cases.