How To Cope With Trauma After An Accident

An accident can be a hugely traumatic experience. Even if there are no physical injuries to contend with, you may still need to deal with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Everyone will respond differently to an accident, but if you find that you are struggling to get your life back on track, it is wise to understand some of the best ways to cope, whether the accident took place in a car, at work, or in the home.

With that in mind, read on to find out more about what you can do to help yourself in this situation.

01

Do not Let Fear Take Over Your Life

One of the most important things to remember after you have been in an accident is that, even if it was extremely serious, you can be grateful that you have survived the event and are still alive.

It might be life-changing, but it is not your one defining moment or memory, nor should it be. You will have lived for many years before your accident and you will continue to live for many years after it—this is why you can not let the fear of what happened take over your life.

If you do, you will not be able to enjoy your life, and we would like to prevent this from happening at all costs because the event does not need to harm you any more than it has.

It is crucial you take things slowly and gradually take steps to heal from this experience. This might mean getting help and looking into PTSD support options, for example. Do whatever it is you need to do to ensure you can move on and beyond your accident and live the rest of your life healed.

02

Stay Positive

This might seem like an impossible piece of advice to follow after an accident, but it is one that can really make a difference when you apply it.

Positive thinking has been scientifically proven to help people recover—both physically and mentally—more quickly after an accident. This is because when you think positively, your body will release more dopamine and serotonin, and these are natural mood enhancers that will make you feel good.

Not only will you feel happier, but your body will respond positively as well, and you will be able to heal faster due to being less stressed and more relaxed.

Being positive after an accident will often be hard on your own, which is why having friends and family around you is a good idea.

Give them the opportunity to take care of you and be in the moment as much as possible, as in this way, you will be worrying less about the future and not thinking about the past, helping you stay more positive overall.

03

Focus On The Things You Can Control

An accident can make you feel very much out of control—as we have said, this is not something anyone can plan for, and it often happens so quickly that there is no time to think or react thoughtfully.

This lack of control can make the memories of what happened even worse, as you will constantly be worrying about the things you could have done or should have done.

In order to cope better after an accident, it is wise to focus only on the things you can control. This will help you reorder your life and will show you that you are still able to think clearly and plan ahead—skills that have not left you despite your traumatic experience.

Some of the things you can actively control include who you spend time with, what you do with your recovery time, what kind of self-care you provide yourself with, what healthy food you eat, how much you sleep, and knowing what you can and can not do.

If there are things you can not control, do not worry about them; you have important things to think about because you must focus on your recovery.

04

Take It Slow

While you are getting better, keep in mind that there is no date by which you should be entirely recovered.  Your recovery depends on you, and there is no need to hurry as long as you are making progress and paying attention to what you and your body need.

Accidents have many mental effects that can lead to anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. You have to take your time and go at your own pace to heal from the mental distress in order to reach a place of stillness regarding the experience.

Trying to rush things could even set you back and ensure that your recovery takes longer. So, be gentle on yourself.

Takeaways

We would absolutely never want anyone to experience these types of experiences. However, knowing that they exist will prepare us for anything. We are all for being strong and resilient, and this is a part of that. We need to know that we are capable of overcoming anything. Once we understand this concept, nothing—not even a passing experience—can separate us from ourselves being whole and well.