When most people think about trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, they think of a soldier who is experiencing anxiety following an experience in combat. Yet there are many traumatic events that cause people to react with more severe, persistent anxiety response. Motor Vehicle accidents in which your or your loved one’s life was threatened or in which you observed a loved one die is incredibly traumatic and frequently produces PTSD symptoms.
Can a Car Accident Cause Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
The CDC reports that in the United States, about 100 people die every day from a motor vehicle accident, making this a high probability death risk in the US. Car accidents are incredibly common. Most of us have been in a fender bender once or twice. But when the accident results in us witnessing the death of someone that we love or threatens our life, our body often reacts in a different way. As uncomfortable as anxiety is, it does serve a purpose. Anxiety allows us to be aware of our surroundings, avoid potentially negative situations and learn from past events to protect our safety and well-being. It stinks. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s a good thing overall. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, on the other hand, is an anxiety response in overdrive. Slam on your breaks and nearly hit the car in front of you, you may feel anxious for a few hours to weeks. But see your life flash before your eyes and your amygdala (the fear center of your brain) wants to be sure that you never forget.What Are Some Warning Signs of PTSD Caused By An Auto Accident?
- Initially many people will find that they keep “replaying” the accident over and over in their head. In any moment of calm or quiet, the scenes from the accident can start replaying in their head.
- More severe forms of PTSD may trigger flashbacks that make the individual feel like they are back in the situation again, flooded with anxiety, distress and dissociation.
- Some may experience more distress at night with recurrent, upsetting dreams leaving them feeling exhausted and unable to go back to sleep.
- Visuals and conversations that remind them of the accident can suddenly elicit strong feelings of anxiety and often are avoided to reduce the feelings of distress.
- Overtime, people may notice that they have a shift in their mood, feel less interested in things that used to be enjoyable, and may even struggle to feel positive emotions.
- Physical changes can also occur resulting in a change in concentration, increased startle response, irritability, and feeling very on edge.