If have watched daytime television, you have seen commercials and programming devoted to car accident victims and their injuries. Nearly 100% of these injury conversations revolve around physical injuries. Mental injuries are seldom, if ever, mentioned.
However, emotional pain is not just part of your pain and suffering, but should also be part of your medical care with a mental health care provider.
Common post-traumatic stress signs
If you have ever been in a car accident, think about the immediate aftermath. You felt shocked and nervous and had trouble believing what happened. These are all signs of post-traumatic stress. Most people get past these feelings in time. Unfortunately, not everyone gets over them easily.
Overwhelming
For those that do not get better with time, these initial feelings become overwhelming. They get worse over time and could even change you as a person (how you think and act towards others). If this happens to you, you likely have post-traumatic stress.
Other signs of serious post-traumatic stress
Two common and persistent symptoms of PTS are persistent restlessness and anxiety, especially around vehicles or driving. Other symptoms are persistent nightmares or trouble sleeping, though, you could have one without the other.
Over time, if these feelings go untreated, things can get worse.
You may begin to disconnect from others and avoid them and people. You may feel disconnected entirely from others. You may find concentration hard because of the lack of sleep and your inability to stop thinking of the car accident, which changes your personality too.
Do not fight in silence
If you notice any of these symptoms, do not fight them in silence. Call your doctor and seek treatment immediately.
Next, contact your West Virginia attorney to make sure they include your mental health treatments in your damages calculations. The negligent driver who caused your issues should pay for those issues.
