Post Traumatic Stress disorder, or PTSD, it a mental health condition that occurs when a person has been involved in an accident or traumatic event. The brain keeps replacing the events like and they cannot escape their thoughts. Those who suffer from PTSD live in a constant state of fear and often cannot function like they once did.
PTSD and Its Origins
It is estimated that there are more than 7.7 million people in America suffering from this condition today. This condition was made popular during days of war when men would come home from the war experiencing nightmares and violent flashbacks.
The condition was not fully understood at that point, and Doctors dubbed the term “shell-shocked” after Vietnam. What they did know is the men were constantly on edge in fear of another attack. It was as if the things that happened to them change the very makeup of their brain and they were altered.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
A person does not have to go to war to experience PTSD. In fact, any traumatic situation can cause this mental health condition to develop. Another common cause of PTSD is traffic accidents, just as any personal injury lawyer.
Statistics show that a person will be in an accident at least once in their life. That accident can be a minor fender bender, or it can be a major catastrophe. Some say that the accident is a “freeze-frame” in their mind.
PTSD is so common in motor vehicle accidents that a study was done by the American Psychological Association. They found that 42 percent of victims from a car accident developed PTSD.
Most were treated at a hospital facility within 48 hours for signs of anxiety and panic, which later was diagnosed as PTSD.
When PTSD is present, it often causes the following symptoms:
- Social Isolation
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Hyper Vigilance
- Insomnia
- Fear of Social Situations
- Panic Attacks
- Loss of Pleasure
- Depression
- Mistrust
- Guilt
- Loneliness
- Agoraphobia
Personal Injuries and PTSD
When involved in a car accident that brought death or injury, many refuse to get back into a car for a period of time. Some feel so traumatized by the events that they will not drive or even leave their home for fear of another accident.
Other mental illnesses can occur alongside PTSD, like agoraphobia. When a person experiences agoraphobia, they are unable to leave their homes for fear of something bad happening.
Millions Are Suffering
The feelings of intense helplessness, which come along with PTSD, are hard to overcome. To get an official diagnosis, a person must have several of the symptoms above for at least one month after the incident.
Having this condition can take a hard toll on relationships as it is a difficult mental illness to understand. PTSD is diagnosed in those that are victims of rape, violent crimes, car accidents, in the military, and have suffered abuse.
While therapy and medications can provide help, some suffer from PTSD for life. The range of suffering can be from mild to completely debilitating.
Getting The Compensation You Deserve
When it comes to a car accident or other personal injury, having a lawyer helping with your claim is vital. The “pain and suffering” clause is often heard when talking about compensation packages.
If you have been in a car accident and suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, your road to recovery will be much harder than one who does not have the mental flashbacks. You may find that after your accident you are a whole other person.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will hijack your identity if you allow it. Trauma changes you and your grounding and you are not the same. For many people, they cannot get in that car and go to work every day due to the fears that they now live with.
Talk to a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer
As a skilled personal injury lawyer, we know that you can get you the compensation that you deserve. At Sternberg Law Office, we know that you cannot just “get over it”.
It is a long road to recovery and if the accident was not your fault, you deserve to be paid for your pain and suffering. We know that this is a difficult time for you and that your anxiety has taken over your life. Call our office today for an appointment to see how we can help.
Additional Reading:
Who Is Responsible for Carnival Injuries?
Can You Sue the Owner of a Car Even if They Weren’t Driving?
What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down at Night