After an individual experiences a car accident, most people are focused on physical injuries and often forget about possible psychological issues that may follow. A crash doesn’t have to be serious for psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) to occur.
Immediately following an accident, a person may feel symptoms such as a racing heart, hands shaking, and a surge of anger.
Below is a list of psychological symptoms many car accident victims experience years after a crash occurred:
- Loss of enjoyment in exercise
- No interest in caring for children
- Loss of enjoyment in hobbies
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Fearfulness to drive
- Stress about financial loss, transportation struggles, disability, and legal issues following the accident
- Insomnia
- Phobia
- Loss of appetite
- Feelings of helplessness
- PTSD
These types of symptoms can severely interrupt an individual’s daily life by causing such a state of depression that they can barely get out of bed each day. It can interfere with school, work, and personal relationships.
The best advice after a car accident is to seek medical help immediately if you are feeling any of these issues. You’ll also want to speak with a personal injury attorney who specializes in car accident cases to determine if compensation for pain and suffering, as well as other psychological damages, is owed to you.