6 Ways Auto Accidents Can Impact Your Mental Health
Injuries and accidents can be incredibly destructive to your mental well-being. There is the shock of the impact, assessing the damage and any injuries you or others have suffered, and the mess of cleanup. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need time in the hospital, rehab, and a different vehicle in the blink of an eye.
1. Isolation
Often, those who have suffered an injury find themselves isolated from friends, family, and their favorite activities. If you loved to cycle and were hit by an inattentive driver, your recovery may include physical therapy and a great deal of rest, which can take time from family and friends. Additionally, such an injury means that your level of activity drops, which can seriously impact your mood.
2. Frustration
You may have been struck by someone running a red light or impaired by drugs or alcohol. You may have been struck by a vehicle that suffered a mechanical failure. If you find yourself angry over the mess of an accident that was not of your making, that anger could lead to frustration with everything else in your life. You may have no patience for your children and no empathy towards your spouse. You may find that your co-workers avoid you because you’re prone to blowing up at the slightest provocation. A high level of frustration with the world around you can increase your risk of isolation.
3. Anxiety
Accident-related anxiety can creep up in strange ways. You may have been hit while making a left turn and suddenly find yourself breathless and panicky when facing another one. You may have been rear-ended and spent so much time checking behind you that you’re not watching the vehicle directly ahead. Often, those with anxiety following an accident will do anything to avoid that intersection. Over time, anxiety can make you feel as though the whole world is a dangerous place.
4. Loss of Motivation
If you’ve been through a really rough car accident and are struggling to get help from insurance, you can lose your motivation. When someone else makes a mistake that messes up your life, you can start to feel powerless and rather abandoned by the structures and professionals that are supposed to help you get better. This loss of motivation while you wait for responses to your emails, calls and even your physician’s requests can leave you in despair. Without support from your lawyer, you may feel voiceless and terribly alone.
When you’re feeling panicky and afraid, knowing that someone is working directly on your behalf is critically important. You can find a Houston car accident lawyer who can work out the legal matters for you. This way, you can focus on rebuilding your mental health, and physical well-being.
5. Inability to Focus
If you took a hard hit to the head or your neck was severely impacted by your accident, you may struggle to focus and complete simple tasks. Connections between brain cells and habitual neural pathways can be damaged when your brain tissue suffers an impact, such as a concussion or a neck whiplash. Should you notice an inability to perform your regular daily tasks, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Brain injury symptoms can start small, such as the ability to
- perform habitual tasks
- remember conversations
- put words together easily
Loss of ability to focus can be regained with occupational and speech therapy. The sooner you can start rebuilding these connections, the better.
6. Disengagement
Being fearful changes your ability to connect with old friends and new acquaintances. The inability to speak clearly and remember conversations can leave you feeling rather paranoid when talking to co-workers and family. Being in constant pain can leave you feeling frustrated and grumpy. Physical limitations may mean that you change your diet, which can cause weight gain and increased inflammation, which may make your pain even worse.
Closing Remarks
Accidents can take a terribly long time to clean up and straighten out. If you were not at fault in the accident, your frustration may be even more intense. Having someone on your side who is working to help you get past the challenges can be incredibly comforting. Your focus needs to be on maintaining and rebuilding your life.