Millions of traffic accidents occur in the United States every year. If you’ve been in an accident, you might have experienced many different feelings. These could be at the time of the accident and in the days following it. Some of these feelings might have included:
- Shock
- Trouble believing it really happened
- Anger
- Nervousness or worry
- Fear or uneasiness
- Guilt
In addition, you might keep going over the accident in your mind. You might feel like you can’t stop thinking about it.
Most people who have been in an accident have some (or all) of these feelings. Sometimes these feelings can be so strong that they keep you from living a normal life.
What’s the difference between normal feelings after an accident and feelings that are too strong?
For most people who are in a traffic accident, the overwhelming feelings go away over time. Sometimes those feelings don’t go away or they become stronger. They can change the way you think and act. Strong feelings that stay with you for a long time and get in the way of everyday life are signs of post-traumatic stress. If you have post-traumatic stress after a car accident, you may have some of the following problems:
- An ongoing, general feeling of uneasiness
- Anxiety about driving or riding in vehicles
- Not wanting to have medical tests or procedures done
- Irritability, or excessive worry or anger
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- A feeling that you’re not connected to other events or people
- Ongoing memories of the accident that you can’t stop or control