San Diego is a busy, thriving city. Many individuals drive to and from work every day, and others take their cars out for various errands and excursions. Car wrecks happen frequently, and sometimes you’ll see serious ones on highways and local roads in the San Diego area.
If you experience a car wreck in San Diego, you might sustain a physical injury. However, mental and psychological damage are just as common. We’ll talk about anxiety and San Diego car accidents right now.
What is Anxiety?
One-third of car wreck victims experience emotional trauma. That’s a troubling statistic, but it’s not surprising when you take the time to think it over.
Anxiety is one emotional trauma form. Anxiety means you feel ill at ease and nervous, often following a traumatic event. A car wreck can certainly fit the bill.
When cars smash into each other, that’s a traumatic event. Maybe you didn’t have any kind of phobia before a car accident, but you feel nervous and distressed when you try to drive afterward.
You might shake or feel your heart rate speed up when you try to get behind the wheel again after a San Diego car accident. You may experience panic and have to take some deep breaths before you turn on the engine and pull out of the driveway. If so, that’s anxiety, and you may have to take some steps to alleviate how you feel before you can return to your previous life.
What Can You Do About Anxiety After a Car Wreck?
Some San Diego residents who experience a car crash can return to normal with no issues. Others struggle in the aftermath, and that’s nothing that should make you feel ashamed. You might have PTSD, especially if you hurt someone in the wreck or you totaled your vehicle.
You might need to figure out how to get into a better headspace before you can drive again. You’ll probably want to see a doctor to determine whether there’s any physical reason why you feel this way.
If a doctor informs you they think you’re experiencing a psychological problem rather than a physical one, they might send you to see a therapist. A therapist may ask you to talk about your experience and how it made you feel.
They might determine that you need to see them for a few weeks or longer to continue talking about the car wreck and your fears following it. That may be enough to prepare you to drive again with no issues.
A mental health professional might also prescribe medication. The right meds can make you feel calmer and more able to get back to your regular driving routine.
Other Symptoms to Watch for Following a Car Accident
You should take care to monitor your physical and mental condition after a car accident in San Diego. Apart from the anxiety symptoms we’ve already mentioned, you might have trouble sleeping. Anxiety can cause insomnia.
You might find that you fret about things much more now than you did before the car wreck. You may think about your family members and worry about them when they drive or take public transportation.
You might experience fatigue or have feelings like something is about to happen at any moment. You may feel like you’re no longer controlling your life and that you’re about to experience some new catastrophe.
If you’re going through any of that, make sure to contact a doctor. Perhaps your health insurance can help pay for the appointment. You should never ignore these symptoms since anxiety may not go away unless you take steps to address it directly.
Usually, You Can Get Over Anxiety
Though many people experience anxiety following a San Diego car accident, most of them can get over it eventually if they’re proactive and confront the problem head-on. Others who struggle for longer times often try to ignore what’s happening. You may feel weak for seeking help if you don’t feel like there’s anything physically wrong with you.
Try to understand that seeking help for anxiety isn’t weakness. It’s courageous to talk to someone to try and get into a better head space following a car wreck or any other traumatic event.
In time, you can probably feel better about the accident, and you won’t fixate on it. As long as you’re careful on the road and obey all traffic laws, there’s no reason to think another major accident will occur.
