Thousands of big rigs roar across Florida roadways every day, from urban interstates to rural freeways. Their size and speed can make travel conditions treacherous and potentially deadly in a collision. While physical injuries can be catastrophic, emotional damage is often missed or neglected. This can completely derail life goals until you address the issue.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, post-traumatic stress disorder may affect people who have witnessed or experienced traumatic events, including natural disasters and devastating automobile accidents.
Post-traumatic stress
When something terrible or frightening happens, your fight or flight response kicks in and stress hormones flood your body. This leaves you on edge and jittery. In the days after a crash, you may have extreme reactions to loud noises that remind you of the event or have nightmares.
Post-traumatic stress is a normal response if you were in an accident involving a semi-truck. It usually resolves on its own within a few days to a few weeks. At that point, it is not a disorder. However, if these symptoms don’t go away or get worse, it could indicate a more significant issue.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD can have disastrous effects on a person’s life if untreated. Although everyone’s situation is different, most cases of PTSD have common symptoms. If you relive the horror of the accident in nightmares or experience recurrent flashbacks, you may be suffering the effects of PTSD.
If your accident occurred on a road that you routinely use, you might find yourself taking an alternate route. Avoiding people or places that remind you of the crash is common, but it is not a healthy way to cope with the emotional turmoil.
Depression, emotional numbness, sleep issues and intense anxiety often result in behavioral changes and difficulty concentrating. This can cause problems with family, friends and at work. Getting help is essential to regaining control of your life. Understanding your options can help you deal with the medical bills and lost wages if your accident resulted from someone else’s negligence.