PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) often occurs when a person encounters a near-death experience. Car crashes are a leading cause of PTSD in the U.S population and attorney Robert Brown, who is a Personal Injury Attorney in New York tells us that almost 40% of traffic accident survivors develop symptoms of PTSD. Injuries caused by road accidents not only cause physical damage but alter a person’s psychological condition as well. It is normal for a person to undergo shock and depression after a painful incident. However, people who are unable to recover from the trauma despite the passage of sufficient time are prone to developing PTSD.
Factors that trigger the development of PTSD
People who have undergone traumatic events earlier in their life and are accustomed to suppressing their emotions are at a high risk of developing PTSD. It is important for a person to grieve, mourn, or lash out after a horrific event. Anyone who doesn’t allow themselves to react or respond in a natural way harbors enormous fears and worries inside him/her. Similarly, individuals who have prior mental disorders or issues are also highly susceptible to suffer from PTSD, following an auto accident. The presence of psychological problems in a family’s history may indicate gene mutations that encourage a person to face mental instability in the aftermath of an ordeal.
Everyone is scared of death, but some people are simply incapable of accepting the fact that life will eventually come to an end. These people may lose their mind when they see death up-close during a fatal misfortune. The idea of dying, losing someone dear, or being the reason for someone’s demise surpasses their tolerance, thus they immerse themselves into a state of denial. Human beings require emotional support to get over their troubles and anxieties; the role of friends and family is integral to restoring sanity. Lack of a support system draws people into a dark space within their heads and leads to PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD
The following symptoms are largely observed among victims of PTSD:
- Mood Swings or sudden outbursts
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Detachment or Numbness
- Reliving intrusive memories
- Avoiding situations that remind of the traumatic event
- Being overly cautious
- Losing interest in hobbies and day-to-day activities
A person who was severely injured in a car accident or harmed someone else in the endeavor may experience intense pain or guilt. He/she may begin to cry abruptly or scream at a person who is simply trying to talk to them about their condition. They want to forget the terrifying details of the accident, but they cannot get themselves to express their feelings. As a result, they get angry or upset when someone brings up the topic or tries to sympathize with them. The flashbacks and intrusive memories often lead to insomnia; if they somehow do end up sleeping, the nightmares get the best of them. They may wake up shaking uncontrollably and feeling nauseous.
Many people cannot go back to driving or even sitting in a vehicle after a lethal car crash. They will avoid all kinds of situations that require them to witness or get near a car. Some individuals lock themselves up in their homes, refusing to go to work or running daily errands. They become overprotective of themselves and the people around them. Patients of PTSD are incapable of living a normal life because they tend to lose interest in everything. Psychotherapy and medication are necessary to pursue recovery.