Car accidents continue to be a primary cause of both serious injury and death in the U.S. In fact, according to recent statistics from the Association for Safe International Road Travel, motor vehicle accidents kill about 46,000 Americans and injure another 4.4 million annually.
Recovering from physical injuries usually requires both the right treatment plan and the passage of time. After your physical wounds heal, though, you may have lingering emotional and psychological injuries.
What causes anxiety?
Anxiety can come either from a single major event or a collection of smaller ones. Car accidents, of course, are naturally stressful events. If you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms after an accident, you may have anxiety:
- Feeling on edge or overly alert
- Being unable to relax or rest
- Having a rapid heart or respiration rate
- Avoiding situations that remind you of a traumatic event
How serious is anxiety?
While it is perfectly normal to experience some anxiety after a car accident, your anxiousness should subside in a few days. If it does not, you may have a more serious anxiety disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder, for example, is pervasive and extreme anxiety that comes from a stressful event.
Can doctors treat anxiety?
If you are feeling abnormally anxious after a car accident, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Often, physicians can prescribe medication to mitigate anxiety. You also may need therapy. These treatments may not fit within your budget, unfortunately, especially if you cannot work after your car accident.
Ultimately, because you may be able to pursue financial compensation for your physical and psychological injuries, you do not want to let the cost of mental health care discourage you from obtaining the care you deserve.
