Benefits of Psychological Counseling After Accident
A car accident, whether the damage was relatively minor or devastating, is a traumatic event. It’s a frightening experience that involves loss of control and may result in pain from injuries. The aftermath of an accident isn’t necessarily limited to the physical damage and wounds. The affect upon the victim’s mental health can be deep and long-lasting.
Not All Injuries are Physical
Although today’s modern safety features mean that many automobile accidents don’t result
in injuries, the need for psychological counseling is often overlooked. Trauma, such as extreme fear or a loss of control can result in lasting damage. When threatened, your brain goes into “fight or flight” mode. A surge of adrenaline gives you the burst of energy your body needs to escape danger or fight back. A trauma, like that from a car accident, may throw your brain into a lasting “fight or flight” state, causing panic attacks, mood swings, depression and anxiety.
Mental and Physical Health
Long after the injuries have healed, and often if there are no physical injuries at all, the psychological repercussions may linger and continue to develop. The need for counseling after accident services isn’t dependent upon the severity of the injuries sustained. The psychological impact of an accident can be lasting and lead to difficulties with everyday life.
Seek Counseling
If you’ve suffered a vehicle accident, seeking counseling is not a sign of weakness. Just as we seek out medical assistance for physical injuries, mental health care is important. If you’re having adverse reactions like long-term stress, anxiety, trouble sleeping, depression, and mood swings following a car accident, you may want to seek out mental health counseling. Working through the emotions and trauma of the accident can help you understand and cope with your symptoms and get on with a normal life.