If you were involved in an accident or were injured by someone’s negligence or violence, it is very common to suffer emotional and psychological effects. This emotional suffering is in addition to the physical pain, and can often be compensated through legal actions.
Unhealthy psychological response can occur after car accidents, combat-related situations, explosions,
or gunfire. Sexual abuse, medical malpractice, premises security failures or physical abuse are all common origins of long-term psychological damage. Negative psychological response to trauma is not easy to predict, and two people can go through the same event with very different responses.
Common Manifestations of Psychological Damage
- Anger, moodiness, or irritability
- Obsessive or compulsive behavior
- Excessive crying
- Denial of the situation
- Lost interest in previously favorite activities
- Numbness and apathy
- Forgetfulness and memory lapses
- Bouts of grief and sadness
- Increased isolation or withdrawal from social situations
- Drug or alcohol addictions
- Sleep complications, including insomnia or nightmares
- Crisis of religious faith
Psychological effects of an accident often require treatment and attention just as physical injuries do. In the more serious cases, suicide may become a possibility, therefore it is important to seek help. Here are other conditions requiring treatment:
Anxiety: The patient experiences excessive worry or tension incongruent with the situation; panic attacks, intense fear and social anxiety disorder; agoraphobia and separation anxiety.
Depression: The patient experiences consistent negative thoughts and feelings and a loss of interest in participating in life. Depression is typically caused by a combination of family mental health history, as well as a psychological source of distress, such as a painful injury or accident.
Post-traumatic stress disorder : PTSD is a condition that is a result of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Patients suffer flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as persistent and recurring thoughts about the experience. Suicide is a huge risk for individuals suffering from PTSD, but anxiety or depression and drug or alcohol misuse are possible as well.
Substance and drug abuse: The excessive use of psychoactive drugs can lead to physical dependence on the drug, increased risk of injury, as well as social and emotional harm. These substances may include alcohol, prescription medication, or illegal psychoactive drugs.
Memory Loss: Accident victims often experiences memory loss, even if the injury did not involve the brain. This is because the brain is so overwhelmed with processing the trauma that other details are therefore not available later for recall.
How Are Psychological Effects Treated?
If you are living with a psychological condition that is a result of an injury you suffered due to someone else’s reckless, careless, or intentional act, you may feel helpless. However, you can find relief through therapy, medication, and support from friends and family.
You also may seek to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Negative psychological response to trauma can affect every aspect of an individual’s life, including the ability to work, keep relationships and maintain independence. Fortunately, the legal system recognizes that psychological impacts of their injury should be compensated.
A personal injury lawsuit is a legal claim that seeks to prove liability for the accident or event that caused the injury that resulted in psychological trauma. If you feel that you have a case for emotional trauma after an accident, call the attorneys at Probinsky & Cole. You should not have to live a compromised life because of someone else’s negligence – call us today.
