Recovering from a serious car crash isn’t just about following the instructions of doctors to make sure that accident victims’ bodies have the best possible chances of healing properly. There are also mental and emotional components to the healing process that often go overlooked. This article will focus on these often-overlooked aspects of recovery.
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Find Professional Counseling
Until recently, many people assumed that counseling and therapy were only for those coping with serious mental illnesses. Thankfully, that narrative has begun to change, and more Americans than ever are learning how to attain and maintain a state of mental wellness, which is incredibly important following a potentially traumatic event.
Accident victims who are afraid to begin counseling because they don’t think they can afford it should schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer. Mental anguish, PTSD, and other emotional issues may be considered recoverable damages.
Acknowledge Challenging Feelings
Accident victims who try to hide their feelings and suppress their responses to trauma will have a harder time moving on following the car crash. Acknowledging feelings of anxiety, depression, or grief and experiencing them fully is much healthier than bottling things up, even if it can feel more painful at the moment. Talking about the accident with trustworthy friends and family or other people who have been in car crashes can help to process difficult emotions.
Practice Self-Care
Many accident victims try to return to stressful lives too soon after the incidents, making it difficult to focus on healing both physically and mentally. The days, weeks, and sometimes months after a serious car crash can be incredibly trying, so accident victims may need to focus more on aspects of self-care that don’t normally command as much attention as they should.
In this case, taking care of the body is an important aspect of recovering mentally. Regardless of the severity of an accident victim’s injuries, they should focus on getting enough sleep, eating plenty of healthy foods, and avoiding lifestyle decisions like using alcohol or drugs to cope with their negative emotions. Try to avoid stress, and don’t be afraid to ask friends or family for help during this difficult time.
Learn How to Manage Stress
For those who have developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their accidents, learning how to manage stress is a must. This common response to traumatic events can lower victims’ thresholds for stress or exposure to potential triggers that remind them of their accidents. Instead of avoiding any kind of negative feelings or experiences, learn how to recognize them as they are coming on and try implementing techniques like deep breathing, progressive relaxation, and mindfulness.
Find a New Normal
For many people, there will always be a before and after component to car accidents, both physically and mentally. Trying to get back to the same place they were at before the accidents occurred can leave victims feeling frustrated and anxious. What they need to recognize is that there’s nothing wrong with moving on differently, developing new coping mechanisms, or making healthy lifestyle changes. With the right attitude, finding a new normal can be validating.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
No car accident victim should be left to suffer alone. Learning how to reach out for and accept help from others is an integral part of healing and moving forward emotionally and mentally. There are doctors, lawyers, counselors, peer support groups, and many other resources out there for people who have been involved in car wrecks. Take advantage of them.