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Behavioral Changes Resulting From Auto Accident

It's common for people to experience behavioral changes after a car accident as the result of an injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or a combination factors. Even a mild concussion can lead to symptoms that affect your emotional state — headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, light/sound sensitivity, confusion, and sleep problems.

Although a head injury leaves you vulnerable to unpleasant behavioral changes, don't discount the trauma you've experienced. It's normal to be upset and feel frustrated after an accident. Processing these emotions takes time, so be kind to yourself. Learn more about behavioral changes resulting from auto collisions and treatment options to help you feel back to normal.

Behavioral Symptoms After Car Accidents

After a car accident, you may experience a variety of emotional and physical reactions. These include feeling anxious, depressed, angry, or confused. Here are behavioral symptoms people often report after a car crash to help you better understand what you're going through:

Anger and Irritability

You may find yourself responding more dramatically to a situation than you would have before the accident, turning a minor inconvenience into a red-alert emergency. This is because your brain is juggling more stimulation than it can handle, which results in anger and irritability. You may also have unresolved feelings about the situation that's causing your outbursts.

Anxiety

Being in a car crash can cause you to worry in ways you never did prior to the incident, or can make you worry more intensely. Anxiety can manifest itself in different ways like feeling on edge, struggling to fall asleep, and always thinking about what could go wrong.

Depression

Depression is a common emotional reaction after car accident, particularly for people who are injured or disabled. This typically causes feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness. As a result, you may have problems sleeping, eating, concentrating, making decisions, and enjoying life.

Impulsivity

In addition to memory loss and difficulty concentrating, traumatic brain injuries can affect impulse control. This can manifest in numerous ways, such as speaking without thinking through the consequences, laughing at inappropriate times, or doing risky activities without considering the potential negative impacts.

Mood Lability

It's normal to cry from feelings of grief or loss after a car crach, which can also help you process emotions and heal from the trauma. But if you find yourself crying for no reason or over trivial matters, then you may be experiencing a neurological condition called emotional lability. This condition can cause uncontrollable crying or laughing, often at inopportune moments.

Social Isolation

There are a variety of reasons why people avoid social events following an auto collision. Fatigue is a common symptom after an accident. Other possibilities behind social isolation is not enjoying conversations anymore because you struggle to follow along, you find it difficult and frustrating to find the right words, or you become easily overstimulated.

Strategies to Manage Your Emotions

Depending on your situation, you may need to work with a psychiatrist or neurologist to cope with behavioral changes. However, there are a few simple strategies you can do on your own to feel better:

Identify Your Triggers

Reflect on what you were feeling right before you had an angry outburst or became overwhelmed. By recognizing these patterns, you'll have an easier time avoiding triggers and managing your emotions.

Name the Emotion

Pretending that you're fine won't make you feel better, and can in fact make things worse. Examine your feelings after the accident and name each emotion. Simply by acknowledging what has happened to you and what you're experiencing can help you move forward.

Make a Plan

When you get overwhelmed, have a plan for how you'll handle it. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed by stress, take a break to relax. You could go to a quiet place, close your eyes, or simply focus on something else.

Exercise

Regular exercise, such as walking, yoga, and dance, offers numerous mental health benefits. It relieves stress and tension, and releases feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins that help you get through everyday tasks.

Journal

Journaling is a therapeutic activity that allows you to express yourself and process difficult emotions. Writing down what you're thinking and feeling can lower stress, alleviate anxiety, improve depression, and provide greater clarity.

Holistic Chiropractic Treatment for Behavioral Changes

If you're struggling with car accident injuries and disruptive behavioral changes, it's vital that you seek treatment from an experienced and trusted provider. Holistic chiropractic injury care is an effective approach that focuses on the body's ability to heal itself through hands-on adjustments and other noninvasive techniques like massage and nutrition.

Metro Chirowell is a dedicated team of chiropractors in Metro West Orlando, Florida that provides state-of-the-art injury care for total wellness. Contact us now to schedule an appointment and start the recovery process!