Get Help With Your Accident PTSD!

PTSD After Car Accident

While the physical symptoms after a car accident, such as neck and shoulder pain, are important to take note of, you should also be mindful of your mental state. Car accidents can be traumatic events, causing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD). Since PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by terrifying occurrences, you may be dealing with some new symptoms that you're unsure how to cope with them.

Let's look more into PTSD after car accidents and what can be done to help guide you through this difficult time.

Why People Experience PTSD After an Accident

When exposed to a traumatic event, whether as a direct eyewitness or seeing it occur to others, it disrupts your normal routine. Though PTSD can happen as a result of many incidents and events, a car accident is one such example of a terrifying occurrence that can shock the system.

The abrupt and often destructive nature of automobile accidents can be jarring for many people. It may also make them hesitant to get behind the wheel or even ride alongside in a car for some time as a result. Since there's such a flood of emotions, most of which are negative or unfamiliar, it can be difficult for anyone to manage independently.

Recognizing that you may have PTSD after an event such as this is vital to not only understanding what you've been going through, but also how to move forward with that knowledge. We're going to discuss what to look out for after a car accident and how it may lead back to a diagnosis of PTSD.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

Like any health condition, it's imperative to look out for new mental health symptoms, especially after a traumatic event. For PTSD, these symptoms usually appear within the first month of the event and can significantly alter your daily life. Here are the common signs and symptoms that can be indicative of this condition:

Intrusion symptoms

Intrusive thoughts are a common sign of PTSD. This can include unwanted recurring memories of the event, flashbacks, nightmares, and severe emotional and physical reactions to anything that reminds you of the event.

Avoidance

Avoidance is much like it sounds. When a person is traumatized by a certain event, they will try to avoid thinking or talking about it, and also avoid anything related to the event, such as a person, person, or activity associated with it. For car accidents, this can be avoiding the accident site or even just getting in a car.

Changes in thinking and mood

Though there are a wide variety of emotions one might feel after a car accident, common negative changes can include:

Negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
Feeling hopeless about the future
Having memory problems, such as not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event itself
Finding it difficult to maintain close relationships or feeling detached from loved ones
A lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
Having difficulty with experiencing positive emotions
A feeling of emotional numbness
Changes in physical and emotional reactions

Negative changes in physical and emotional reactions are also common and can manifest through being easily startled, exhibiting self-destructive behavior, having trouble sleeping and concentrating, displaying angry outbursts, and an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame. There's also the feeling of needing to constantly be on guard for danger and a sense of unease.

If you display a number of these symptoms, it's crucial to speak to a specialist about a potential PTSD diagnosis. There are some holistic ways to help manage PTSD's mental and physical symptoms after a traumatic car crash.

Benefits of Holistic Chiropractic Care

To ease the physical ailments that PTSD can cause, seeing a chiropractor that specializes in car accident injuries is a great way to holistically care for yourself. Here's how Metro Chirowell can help:

Injury Recovery

After the accident, it's important to receive care for any injuries. Since PTSD can manifest physically, it can also be beneficial to alleviate those symptoms through holistic chiropractic care, such as adjustments, massage, and physical therapy exercises.

Pain Management

Stress associated with PTSD can lead to headaches and chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. Chiropractic spinal alignment not only provides physical relief, but also aids in recovery and improves mental health.

Hormonal Balances

Hormonal balances can occur after a stressful event, and chiropractic care can help to manage hormone production and regulation. This assists in reducing anxiety and panic attacks as well.

Chiropractic Treatment for Your PTSD

Metro Chirowell in Metro West Orlando is focused on offering state-of-the-art care for accident injuries to help patients in our community achieve the best outcomes. Make an appointment with us today so we can discuss a treatment plan for your PTSD-related symptoms.