How the emotional stress of an accident changes your life

You know that the physical injuries you suffer in a car accident could change your life forever, but have you ever really considered the mental and emotional impact of a crash? This is usually worse when you get seriously injured or when a loved one passes away, but it can happen even after “minor” accidents. This stress can absolutely have a negative impact on your life.

The main symptom you may see is a fear of driving. It could be almost as bad as a phobia, and you’ll feel like you’re having a panic attack if you get in a vehicle or drive down the same road where the accident happened. Other potential symptoms may include:

• Waking up often or not being able to get to sleep
• Having nightmares and flashbacks
• Going through mood swings and feeling more irritable than you did before
• Experiencing excessive weight gain or weight loss
• Withdrawing from friends and family members; choosing to spend more time alone
• Always feeling exhausted or fatigued, making it hard to go to school or work
• Feeling like life is always overwhelming and you cannot cope with it
• Becoming obsessive about specific behaviors, especially those related to safety
• Feeling embarrassed by the accident and the way that it makes you feel
• Being lonely, even when you chose the social withdrawal

These symptoms are nothing to take lightly. You may need to work with a therapist or a medical professional. It can take months or years to overcome them.

As you work through these feelings, make sure you find out if you have a right to financial compensation due to your injuries. If your car accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, an attorney can advise you of your options and protect your rights.