Unfortunately, some of the most difficult challenges you will endure after a car crash come from the emotional trauma you may experience. Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress can impact your quality of life, leading to obstacles in your day-to-day tasks. Coping with emotional trauma can feel nearly impossible, but there are a few things you can do to get help.
It’s crucial to recognize your options after a severe accident and understand how you can overcome some of the most difficult emotional hardships. The coping mechanisms you utilize can significantly improve your quality of life, but you should still take legal action to recover compensation.
Here are 7 ways to cope with trauma after a severe collision:
- Learn more about emotional trauma
- Identify your triggers
- Recognize ways to avoid your triggers
- Speak with family and friends about your trauma
- Utilize the R.A.I.N. method
- Understand your therapy options
- Discover ways to manage your anxiety and fears
Call our firm today at (801) 900-4681 if you need help with the legal matters that arise after a car accident.
1. Learn More About Emotional Trauma
Awareness is one of the most powerful things when you suffer from trauma after a crash. Knowing what it is and how it impacts your life can help determine the most effective treatment options. Here are just some of the effects associated with emotional trauma following a car accident:
- Triggers may force you to relive the accident over and over again, with flashbacks causing anxiety and fear.
- You may experience reduced contact with friends and family or emotional disconnect.
- It can also cause you to avoid any actions that you may associate with the situation you encountered in the crash.
It’s typically more challenging to deal with emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress if you are unsure what it is and how it affects your life. When you understand emotional trauma, you can better recognize ways to cope and move forward.
2. Identify Your Triggers
Now that you know how emotional trauma can impact your life, it’s critical to recognize what triggers you may have. Triggers are events, sounds, sights, and even smells that can remind you of your accident, causing you to experience the fear, anxiety, stress, and other emotional distress associated with your triggers.
Some triggers may include:
- The sounds of honking horns, crashing metal, and screeching tires
- The smell of burning rubber or leaking oils
- The sight of a car accident scene
Even if another crash doesn’t occur, you may hear a sound similar to something you heard during your collision, and it can cause your triggers to flare.
3. Recognize Ways to Avoid Your Triggers
Finding “outs” and ways to avoid your triggers can help you if you are ever close to experiencing a problem. It’s crucial to find ways you can get out of a stressful situation. For instance, if you are in an area where another crash has occurred and your triggers begin to cause you to feel anxiety, you should be sure to leave the area as quickly as possible or have someone you can call for support.
4. Speak with Family and Friends About Your Trauma
Your loved ones should know about the various effects of trauma that you can endure. Having a support system in some of your most difficult times can help treat your trauma or overcome your triggers. When your family and friends know your struggles, they can stay available to help you in the event you have troubles.
5. Utilize the R.A.I.N. Method
The R.A.I.N. method refers to:
- Recognize that your trauma exists.
- Allow it to be there, and know that you can get through it.
- Investigate the reasons it may occur.
- Not letting it define who you are, but only letting it be something you experience.
Self-awareness is a powerful tool to utilize whenever you have troubles with stress or anxiety.
6. Understand Your Therapy Options
You may have access to several therapy options to help you cope with your emotional trauma. Here are the primary sources of therapy you may utilize:
- Medication therapy to help cope with the trauma.
- Therapy with a trained professional to confront your triggers.
- Therapy with a trained professional to learn how to avoid triggers.
- Group therapy with others who may experience the same problems.
7. Discover Ways to Manage Your Anxiety and Fears
As time moves on and you get into the aftermath of your crash, you will begin to discover various ways that help you manage the fear and anxiety associated with emotional trauma. The more you can focus on what causes the triggers and how to move forward effectively, the better.
Keep in mind, your quality of life is a vital factor in pursuing maximum compensation. However, above all else, we prioritize your well-being, always looking out for your best interests. Getting the treatment options you need when you experience post-traumatic stress is our top priority.
At Lowe Law Group, we promise to be in your corner throughout every step of the process. Our car accident lawyers represent clients in numerous states throughout the country, and we work hard to protect your best interests. When you experience any physical or emotional harm due to a crash, know that we’ll be in your corner.
