A motorcycle crash can be incredibly traumatic. Although some people are able to walk away from their accident unscathed, most have some degree of injuries. Injuries to the body, like broken bones, road rash, and concussions, can be healed with proper medical treatment and time. But it is often the damage to the psyche that lingers and can disrupt your life. For a number of individuals involved in a motorcycle crash, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes debilitation and a decrease in the quality of life.
Even if your physical injuries are relatively minor, post traumatic stress disorder can make it very hard to recover from your motorcycle accident. Emotional distress can affect you tremendously, and should not be discounted.
Symptoms of PTSD after a motorcycle accident include:
- Fear and anxiety that interferes with usual activities
- Loss of interest in the things that usually make you happy
- Having problems sleeping – either sleeping too much or not sleeping enough
- Having trouble concentrating on your work
- Having problems focusing on reading, or making decisions
Although there is no cure for post traumatic stress disorder, there are a number of different treatments that can help alleviate the symptoms. Antidepressants are used to treat both depression and anxiety and also can help improve sleep. Your physician or a psychiatric professional can recommend and prescribe an antidepressant for you. Just remember that different medications work for different individuals. You may need to try several medications before you find one that works for you. In some cases, although antidepressants may help make the symptoms more manageable, they continue to interfere with normal day-to-day life.
For a free legal consultation,
call 1-800-668-6729
Psychotherapy is another way to tackle PTSD. Talk therapy with a mental health professional, both individual and group, can help you reprocess your memories and learn to help moderate them when they prevent you from focusing. When searching for a therapist, look for one who has experience helping individuals with post traumatic stress disorder.
Exercise has been shown to benefit individuals with PTSD after motorcycle accidents. Mind-body exercises, like yoga and tai chi, can increase feelings of calm and can help you learn to relax when your body and mind become stressed. They can also improve your moods and reduce your overall anxiety. In addition, they help you learn to regular the physical reactions that you experience to stress. It’s not unusual for people with PTSD to experience moments of panic where they breathing and heart rate increase. These exercises can help you relax and calm your body during these moments of intense panic.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Despite all the advances in the treatment of PTSD, there is no clear cure. People with PTSD can face it for months, years, or even a lifetime. Obviously, this challenging condition can wreak havoc in your life. Some bikers who have PTSD after a motorcycle crash feel shame or embarrassment about their condition. This is unfortunate as this condition is all too common and, since people with the condition have trouble sharing it with others, often people fail to realize just how prevalent it is.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
A motorcycle accident is a traumatic event. You may believe you can put the emotional distress behind you, return to riding a motorcycle, and never develop PTSD. But the reality is very different for many motorcycle accident victims. They find that the trauma of the event, combined with pain and suffering and the hardship of economic damages weighs heavily on their minds.
Substance abuse and use of chemicals to treat the problem only compounds it. The American Psychiatric Association recommends that people with PTSD seek counseling and psychiatric treatment. Although there is no “cure” for PTSD, the effects can be minimized with treatment.
If you or a loved on are suffering from PTSD after a motorcycle accident, you know just how devastating this condition can be. It’s critical to have an experience motorcycle accident attorney on your side. When you call 1-800-MOTORCYCLE, we can help assess your case.
We’ll explain how we can work with you to help you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries and lost wages. Although the physical injuries from a motorcycle crash can heal, the mental damage can last for a lifetime. Let us work to get you the settlement that you deserve! Contact us today to speak to a motorcycle accident attorney and see how we can help you!
Call or text 1-800-668-6729 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
