Accident Aftermath: PTSD

    Everyone knows someone who has been in a car accident. Often, the first question that friends and family members of accident victims think to ask is, “Have you been recovering, physically?” However, while the physical damages of car accidents can take a toll on a person’s health, they can be reversible with treatment and time. The psychological impacts, however, often last years longer than a broken collar bone or pinged spinal nerve.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that often follows a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). With 6 million accidents occurring every year in America alone, car crashes rank among the leading causes of PTSD, along with natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The symptoms may range from uneasiness in riding in or operating a vehicle again to ongoing flashbacks or even nightmares of the accident. Often, these symptoms lessen in the span of a few days or weeks, but in patients with PTSD, they persist or even worsen in the long run.

It is important to inquire about the psychological health of an accident victim in the follow-up visits with physicians during the recovery process. In fact, some studies have even shown a positive correlation between PTSD and heart trouble, suggesting that PTSD’s symptoms can negatively impact the physical health problems. However, there are many ways of reducing or even eliminating these harmful PTSD symptoms, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and special medication. Whether a car accident causes a slight sprain or severe concussion, everyone handles stress differently. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should always be taken into consideration early on, to expedite the recovery process and avoid unnecessary and uncontrollable amounts of anxiety down the road.