Can PTSD Occur After Car Accidents?

February 5, 2018

Victims of car accidents often find that the full extent of their injuries don’t present for days, sometimes weeks after a crash. Such symptoms may be indicative of whiplash or other soft tissue trauma. Symptoms can be also emotional in nature and signal a warning sign of a serious medical condition – post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

PTSD is a severe mental health condition that you might develop after being involved in a life-changing event, such as a motor vehicle accident. While it’s normal to experience some emotional tumult after a traumatic experience, PTSD takes a more profound toll on your ability to function normally. If it’s been a few months since your car accident and you still find it difficult to go to school or work, you might have PTSD.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness; it can happen to anyone exposed to trauma. You might be more likely to develop PTSD if you were involved in a serious car accident or lacked proper social support in the following weeks and months of your recovery. Gender, age, and previous exposure to trauma might also be risk factors for developing PTSD.

Main Symptoms of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder can look a little different from person to person, but there are four main classifications of symptoms. These symptoms usually occur soon after a traumatic event, but in some cases, may appear months or even years later. They include:

Reliving the experience. Victims of PTSD often report nightmares or vivid memories of the event that cause them to relive it, over and over. These are referred to as flashbacks.
Experiencing an increase in negative feelings or thoughts. You might relate to yourself or others in ways that are different from before. For example, if you lost a loved one in a crash, you might experience guilt or shame for being alive. Alternatively, you might think that the world is a dangerous place and find it hard to place trust in people, even your loved ones.
Avoiding triggers. People with PTSD often avoid situations that remind them of the event – for example, you might avoid driving on the stretch of highway where you experienced the accident.
Hyperarousal. This term refers to the idea that victims of PTSD often feel on-edge and on the lookout for dangerous situations. This may affect your ability to sleep or concentrate. These feelings might also persuade you to blow off some steam by engaging in dangerous behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol or smoking.

How Common Is PTSD After a Car Accident?

Developing PTSD symptoms following a car accident is more common than you might think. The unfortunate reality is that 1% of the US population will experience an injury in a motor vehicle accident at some point – making car accidents one of the most common traumatic events people will experience.

The good news is that most people who survive a serious motor vehicle accident do not develop mental health problems. Those who do, however, are most likely to suffer from PTSD, anxiety disorders, or major depression.

According to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, around 9% of motor vehicle accident survivors develop PTSD. Additionally, about 50% of car accident survivors who seek treatment have some co-occurring mental health problem, such as depression. This seems to suggest that those with pre-existing mental health conditions may be more likely to experience PTSD after a car crash.

Thankfully, PTSD is treatable with the help of a mental health professional. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms following a car crash, make an appointment with your health care provider as soon as possible.

The post Can PTSD Occur After Car Accidents? appeared first on GES Injury Attorneys.

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