A car accident can easily be a traumatic event for many people. If the mental and emotional needs go unchecked, they can lead to additional complications with physical healing, as well as conditions like anxiety and depression, making it important to learn how to mentally recover from a car accident. At Smith Jordan Law, our Greenville car accident lawyers work with people who’ve been through trauma like this every day.
Take time to process your accident
Society today tells us that productivity is the only productive use of time and that the rest is not productive. However, after a car accident, rest is one of the most productive things you can do to take care of your physical and mental well-being. Take time to acknowledge your feelings about the accident. Failing to rest or continuing to push yourself can keep your body in fight or flight longer than necessary, causing emotional and physical problems.
Be aware of signs that could mean something more
A degree of disruption to your daily functioning can be normal for a day or two after a car crash. Some lingering feelings of stress, anxiety, or guilt may also be typical of a traumatic experience.
Some indicators that your symptoms may be something more serious, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), include:
- Avoidance behavior: This can include not wanting to talk about what happened, taking the long way around to avoid the scene of the accident, or a fear of driving or riding in the car that prevents you from performing necessary tasks
- Sleep disruption or nightmares surrounding the accident
- Mood disruption or increased irritability that affects your relationships
- Intrusive thoughts about the crash that may include flashbacks, vivid imagery, or disturbing thoughts
Many people can experience these symptoms or similar ones as a normal part of recovering from a car accident. However, when you experience long-term effects or those that disrupt your life, it can be a sign that you have developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the accident. This is not an uncommon experience and can often be resolved by seeking help from a professional.
Address your symptoms after a Greeneville Car Accident
It can be easy to tell yourself that the emotional distress you experience will pass, that you just need time to get over it. Even if this is the case, seeking help can reduce the time it takes to fully mentally recover from a car accident. Mental health professionals and researchers have identified several strategies used to effectively treat symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This can be done one-on-one with a clinician or in a group setting. CBT usually requires a couple of months of treatment at least. Most Cognitive Behavioral Therapy groups will run for approximately 12 weeks, and working one-on-one with a clinician typically depends on the individual.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
A more recent frontrunner in trauma therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess previously traumatic memories as non-traumatic. This is done 1:1 with a clinician and may resolve in as little as 1-3 sessions when your trauma comes from a single event.
General coping mechanisms
Regardless of the treatment you choose, your clinician will likely work with you on general coping strategies as well as support group resources. These techniques will likely include deep breathing, grounding, and distress tolerance skills.
Call Smith Jordan Law today so you can focus on your mental recovery
It can feel overwhelming to find an attorney when you are already dealing with injuries from a car crash. At Smith Jordan Law, we understand this, and our goal is to handle the day-to-day of your claim so you can focus on recovering from your physical injuries and taking time to mentally recover. Please contact us online or by calling (846) 343-2222 to schedule a free case consultation and learn about your options.