Therapy For Car Accident
Has A Recent Car Accident Left You Constantly On Edge And Bracing For Another One?
Do images of the accident keep replaying in your mind and you feel like you’re reliving the accident all over again?
Are there certain situations related to driving (like driving at night or driving on the freeway) that fill you with paralyzing fear and dread?
Do you take pains to avoid the scene of the accident or anything that might remind you of the accident?
Have you stopped trusting other drivers on the road to drive safely and so now you’re constantly looking over your shoulder to see what they’re doing?
When you’ve been in a car accident, it can be hard to believe that something so “minor” can have such a huge impact. The impact is bigger than you could have imagined and permeates all aspects of your life.
After an accident, you may find getting into the car to drive again feels like an impossible task.
Familiar routes you took every day to work, school, and errands without any thought at all now feel like a minefield of stress and unease. Loud noises like the sound of a revving engine or screeching brakes which never bothered you before make your heart race and your stomach drop.
For some, you may stop driving altogether or only when you have to. You might white knuckle it getting to and from work but find yourself avoiding driving to places you used to enjoy going.
For those who used to enjoy driving, now you find that the pleasure is all gone and has been replaced by anxiety and agitation.
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Becoming An Anxious Driver Is A Natural Reaction To A Car Accident
There are some people who walk away from an accident unscathed and can bounce back returning to life and driving again like nothing has happened. There are many others, though, where for them this is not the case.
For these individuals, driving or even being a passenger in a car, is never the same.
And for those who have a prior history of other car accidents, it can be even worse. If you count yourself as one of the people who is struggling after a car accident, you are not alone.
For those who haven’t had much experience with anxiety before a car accident, you may not even recognize it. It may take other people in your life such as family members to point it out.
Whenever you’re in the car now, you become easily irritated at other drivers and snap at family members with you who may take your attention away from driving. While on the road, you’re gripping the steering wheel so tightly your fingers ache when you get out of the car. You have new physical symptoms you never had before while driving like feeling shaky, sweaty, and tense all over your body.
As a passenger, family members complain that, ever since the accident, you’ve become a back seat driver. You know they’re right but you can’t stop yourself from noticing and pointing out all the ways your family member or other drivers are driving unsafely and you tell yourself you’re just trying to keep everyone safe.
It's Not All In Your Head
Driving should not be as stressful as it’s become since your accident. The amount of stress you’re experiencing is a consequence of the accident and is unlikely to get better if not treated. In fact, some individuals suffer from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) following an accident.
If the car accident you experienced was a relatively minor one, it might be easy to want to dismiss the symptoms you’re experiencing. You might try to convince yourself the accident made you a better driver because you pay more attention now and are more likely to protect yourself better in future situations that may arise.
The truth is driving while under a severe amount of stress, does not make you a better driver. When we’re stressed, we have a tendency to not see the big picture and we may also be more reactive, leading us to make decisions that aren’t the best or the safest.
Psychotherapy For A Car Accident Can Help You Feel At Ease Driving Again
After a car accident, there are many stressful tasks and appointments you may suddenly find yourself needing to attend. This might include medical doctors, a physical therapist, an attorney if you need to pursue legal action, and, depending on the extent of your injuries, a surgeon. Unlike physical therapy which helps you address physical issues which result from a car accident, psychotherapy focuses on the emotional injuries which typically emerge as well.
It may be difficult to want to add yet another thing to do. But what could be more valuable than investing time in learning how to move past the distress of the car accident you experienced and overcoming the symptoms you’re now facing?
What To Expect From Psychotherapy For A Car Accident
We’ll start by discussing what’s changed since your car accident. We’ll identify all the areas of your life that may be affected as a result of the accident including sleep, your experience driving, and the level of fear or stress you’re now experiencing day to day.
In addition to anxiety, which was discussed above, it’s also not uncommon for individuals who’ve been in a car accident to notice symptoms of depression. Depression can be caused by any number of reasons including financial stress related to damage or total loss of your car, having to deal with physical injuries and pain, and an overall feeling of loss of control and safety.
Once I understand what problems you’ve been facing since the accident, I can develop a customized treatment approach to address your unique needs.
There are a number of highly effective techniques I’ve used with clients who have struggled in the aftermath of a car accident that I will share with you. After each session, most clients report feeling significantly better. The end goal is to help you return to the driver you were before your car accident.
You May Have Some Concerns About Psychotherapy For A Car Accident
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Therapy following a car accident can be incredibly beneficial, even if you may not consider your situation as serious compared to other mental health concerns.
Although you may feel relatively okay immediately after the accident, unresolved emotions or trauma responses may surface later. Seeking therapy early can serve as a preventive measure against potential long-term psychological effects.
For some, experiencing a car accident can be traumatic, leading to a range of emotional and psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy can help process and alleviate these traumatic effects.
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For some, symptoms which were initially acute following the accident will eventually start to diminish over time. If you notice your symptoms have lasted a month or longer, it may be time to consider seeking counseling support.
I have worked with many individuals who did not address the anxiety that resulted from a car accident and they spent many years needlessly suffering with feelings of discomfort and fear while driving. If your symptoms are acute, persistent, or have been long lasting, it’s likely your experiencing trauma from the car accident. During our work together, I will utilize proven trauma treatment techniques to help you put the terrible memory of what happened behind you and move towards a future of being in control and free.
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Over the past 14 years, I’ve helped many people move past the stress of a car accident as well as regain a sense of control and peace that was lost when the accident occurred. I’ve also seen individuals who’ve avoided seeking treatment for years following a car accident and have unnecessarily endured suffering and unease.
The good news is that psychotherapy for a car accident is treatable and, in many cases, positive results can happen in a relatively short amount of time. With the help of a trained psychotherapist who specializes in treating car accident stress, you can break free from the constant tension and anxiety you’re currently experiencing and return to being a comfortable driver again.
Take the Next Step And Feel Comfortable Behind the Wheel Again
If you’re ready to go from constantly being on edge in the car to driving with ease and confidence again, please reach out for a free 20-minute phone consultation.
