Trauma 101: A guide to managing PTSD after an accident

When topics like road traffic accidents or vehicle collisions come up we usually talk about the physical injuries and their management, however, what many people do not realize, is that such traumatic episodes not only have a physical impact but a psychological one too. It has been seen that nearly 9 percent of people who have been in a road traffic accident are likely to develop PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. As per the doctors specializing in accident trauma care in Jayanagar, the condition can manifest itself in various different forms. You may have flashbacks of the accident or you may develop a phobia of driving, which is also termed amaxophobia. Other common symptoms associated with PTSD include anxiety, irritability, nervousness, nightmares, numbness, and despondency.

You must be wondering how an event like a car accident gives rise to a psychological problem. Is it because the person sustained an injury to the head? Top experts specializing in accident trauma care suggest that one can have post-traumatic stress disorder irrespective of the type of injury and some might develop it even if they have just witnessed the accident and have not been physically involved.

Fortunately, PTSD can be managed with proper care and guidance. Here are a few techniques that are recommended by the experts from the leading hospital for accident trauma care in Bangalore:

Cognitive processing therapy - The aim of the therapy is to identify and assess all the negative thoughts and feelings that a person has developed as a result of the accident. In some cases, the person somehow comes to believe that the accident was a punishment for something that he did and he deserved it. Some people tend to blame themselves for the accident or that they couldn't save someone who was involved. All these negative thoughts keep piling up over time. As such, it is very important to get rid of these and replace them with positive thoughts like 'they have been given another chance at life, so they should make the best out of it'. Cognitive processing therapy gives the person better control over his thoughts which, in turn, helps him to deal with the same in a more optimistic way.

Prolonged exposure therapy - A lot of accident victims or witnesses with PTSD tend to have certain thoughts and feelings that may be uncontrollable at times especially when they are under some kind of stress or facing some inconvenience. Prolonged exposure therapy allows the person to vent his feelings in a much better and controlled way. The process is slow and gradual and you need to go for multiple sessions to decrease the outbursts. The therapy works by changing the patient's perception gradually, with time.

Apart from these,  you can also try the following tips:
●     Talk to someone you trust, be it a friend or a family member. Don’t let the feelings pile up.
●     Take time to grieve, if you have lost someone in an accident. There is nothing wrong with crying or screaming. No one is ever going to judge you for it
●     Talk to other people who had been involved in the accident and try to understand how they are coping with it. Interacting with people who can relate to your trauma can be really helpful
●     Give yourself the time to heal, whether it means taking a break from work or going on a vacation
●     Try meditation techniques like yoga.
●     Keep yourself occupied with things that you love
●     Pamper yourself by practicing self-love.

If you need any assistance or guidance related to PTSD management, you can consult our experts.

Posted on : 11/07/2022      Views : 510

Trauma 101: A guide to managing PTSD after an accident

When topics like road traffic accidents or vehicle collisions come up we usually talk about the physical injuries and their management, however, what many people do not realize, is that such traumatic episodes not only have a physical impact but a psychological one too. It has been seen that nearly 9 percent of people who have been in a road traffic accident are likely to develop PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. As per the doctors specializing in accident trauma care in Jayanagar, the condition can manifest itself in various different forms. You may have flashbacks of the accident or you may develop a phobia of driving, which is also termed amaxophobia. Other common symptoms associated with PTSD include anxiety, irritability, nervousness, nightmares, numbness, and despondency.

You must be wondering how an event like a car accident gives rise to a psychological problem. Is it because the person sustained an injury to the head? Top experts specializing in accident trauma care suggest that one can have post-traumatic stress disorder irrespective of the type of injury and some might develop it even if they have just witnessed the accident and have not been physically involved.

Fortunately, PTSD can be managed with proper care and guidance. Here are a few techniques that are recommended by the experts from the leading hospital for accident trauma care in Bangalore:

Cognitive processing therapy - The aim of the therapy is to identify and assess all the negative thoughts and feelings that a person has developed as a result of the accident. In some cases, the person somehow comes to believe that the accident was a punishment for something that he did and he deserved it. Some people tend to blame themselves for the accident or that they couldn't save someone who was involved. All these negative thoughts keep piling up over time. As such, it is very important to get rid of these and replace them with positive thoughts like 'they have been given another chance at life, so they should make the best out of it'. Cognitive processing therapy gives the person better control over his thoughts which, in turn, helps him to deal with the same in a more optimistic way.

Prolonged exposure therapy - A lot of accident victims or witnesses with PTSD tend to have certain thoughts and feelings that may be uncontrollable at times especially when they are under some kind of stress or facing some inconvenience. Prolonged exposure therapy allows the person to vent his feelings in a much better and controlled way. The process is slow and gradual and you need to go for multiple sessions to decrease the outbursts. The therapy works by changing the patient's perception gradually, with time.

Apart from these,  you can also try the following tips:
●     Talk to someone you trust, be it a friend or a family member. Don’t let the feelings pile up.
●     Take time to grieve, if you have lost someone in an accident. There is nothing wrong with crying or screaming. No one is ever going to judge you for it
●     Talk to other people who had been involved in the accident and try to understand how they are coping with it. Interacting with people who can relate to your trauma can be really helpful
●     Give yourself the time to heal, whether it means taking a break from work or going on a vacation
●     Try meditation techniques like yoga.
●     Keep yourself occupied with things that you love
●     Pamper yourself by practicing self-love.

If you need any assistance or guidance related to PTSD management, you can consult our experts.



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