PTSD After A Serious Car Accident

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event, such as a serious auto accident, especially an accident in which the victim believe that he/she was about to die. In some individuals, PTSD may result in a type of brain damage. Such damage may be associated with the effects of constant chemical processes associated with increased fear and anxiety. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV, PTSD may be summarized as exposure to traumatic event, associated with persistent re-experience of events, lasting more than one month, and which significantly impairs social, occupational, or other important areas of the person's life and functioning.

It is not uncommon for a person who has been involved in a serious accident to suffer from PTSD, experiencing constant fear of driving in general and feeling that they are just about to find themselves in a similar accident again, and that there is not much they can do to prevent it. This fear can be debilitating, and interfere not only with a person's ability to drive, but also focus and sleep. 

Typically, successful treatment of PTSD will include both, medication to alleviate the anxiety symptoms as well as psychological counseling to rebuild the person's confidence and rational outlook on the surrounding environment.

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