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Last
Modified on
May 06, 2025
People handle the stress of being in motor vehicle accidents in different ways. The severity of the crashes is one impacting factor. People involved in serious accidents, including those where lives were taken, might have more pronounced effects.
While it is easy to focus on the physical injuries since they can be seen, it is also possible for victims to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a car crash. This is a mental health condition that must be treated or it can worsen and overtake a person’s entire life.
Signs of PTSD
It is normal to have a little anxiety after a car wreck, but this should lessen over time. If you have PTSD, the symptoms will likely intensify as time progresses. The key to determine if you need to seek mental health help is the frequency and intensity of these symptoms.
- Reminders of the crash, such as horns honking, make you feel anxious. You may have an increased heart rate.
- You avoid getting into vehicles. This can be a complete avoidance that prevents you from going to work or running errands. It might be a partial avoidance that makes you hesitate before getting into a car to do things you know you can’t miss.
- You might be more vigilant on the roads. Watching for threats, such as swerving or speeding drivers, may become your primary focus in the car.
- You may be jumpy or on edge in vehicles. Even small events, such as someone stopping suddenly at a stoplight might trigger your fear response.
