Getting Counselling Help after a Motor Vehicle Accident
Each year thousands of British Columbians are suffering from car-accident related trauma which may result in depression, anxiety, sleeping disorder, panic attacks, PSTD and more.
Involving in a car accident can bring many physical and mental changes in your life. Some of its physical impacts can be easily identified and treated but psychological changes can’t be identified so easily and most of the people left it untreated. The person who experienced a car accident can feel some changes in his daily habits such as sleeping problems, an increase or decrease in appetite, anxiety, mood changes, difficulty in concentration, bad memory, and an increase in stress.
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is also important. Car accidents can impact your life in the short and long term. The best way to come over the effects of motor vehicle accidents is by taking counselling . In this case, ICBC will help you by providing the benefits of medical and rehabilitation even if you are responsible for the collision. So, you can report to ICBC after experiencing the Motor Vehicle Accident to get counselling benefits if you are feeling anxiety, sleep problems, sadness, depression, anger, nightmares, flashbacks, and difficulty in concentration.
Let us help you. Many clients in Evergreen Rehab & Wellness have experienced positive outcomes in recovery through our professional help.
Symptoms of physical and emotional issues
Involving in a car accident can disturb your mental and physical health. Dealing with the aftermath of car accidents is very difficult for some people and they have some physical and emotional issues. The following are some symptoms which an individual can feel after having a motor vehicle accident.
- Lack of interest in favorite things
- Anxiety
- Fatigue, tiredness
- Headache
- Guilt
- Continuous feeling of sad
- Suicidal thoughts
- Sleep problems
- Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
- Trouble in decision making
- Concentration and thinking problems
Signs of PTSD After a Car Accident
Involving in a car accident can also trigger your posttraumatic stress disorder and you may feel these feelings after some days of the accident. The following are some of the common feelings or signs of PTSD after a car accident
- Increase in nervousness and worry
- Shock
- Anger
- Trouble in believing the happening of the accident
- Fear or uneasiness
- Guilt
Four Types of Symptoms of PTSD
In most of the cases, PTSD appears in those persons who personally experienced the shocking, scary, and dangerous event. However, it can also occur in a person who has a relationship with a patient who has PTSD. Being a witness of a disastrous event is also a key to trigger PTSD in a person. Each person has different experiences and symptoms, although the following are four significant symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
- Re-experiencing Symptoms
Re-experiencing events are those in which the patient feels that he is reliving or facing that event. The most common examples of Re-experiencing symptoms are nightmares, bad memories, and flashbacks of the event. These symptoms can be shown from the physical condition of patients, especially in flashbacks condition, the patient can face heart attack and sweating. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Words, situations, or objects that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing symptoms.” - Cognitive Symptoms
Cognitive symptoms refer to negative thoughts about the world or oneself. These people don’t trust easily and are always doubtful about any person. According to the National Center for PTSD, “those experiencing cognitive symptoms may have difficulty trusting people and may find it hard to feel happy.” They feel guilt and blame for an event when they recall the situation. - Avoidance Symptoms
Avoidance symptoms are based on avoiding the person, place, or situation that may trigger PTSD in a patient. People with these symptoms try to avoid thinking or discussing the disastrous event and may change habits for this reason. He may change his friend’s company or any other thing which recalls the event in his mind. - Hyperarousal Symptoms
Hyperarousal symptoms are also known as reactivity symptoms; in these symptoms, the particular person is not triggered by a place, person, or situation; instead, the symptoms remain constant. The person can feel stress or anxiety and get angry quickly. People who face hyperarousal symptoms have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. There are chances that the person may be involved in unhealthy behaviours such as drinking alcohol or smoking.
How counseling can help to recover from trauma after an accident?
Getting counseling from an experienced and skilled mental health therapist, you can regain your mental health and can control your feelings. The following are some of the benefits that you can gain after counseling
- It will help you to identify the problems or difficulties you are facing after an accident
- Your therapist will provide you a prescription that will boost your recovery process.
- Difficulty Concentrating
- The therapist will provide you different strategies that you can apply in your life to control the changes and challenges.
- Counseling will support you to achieve your desired goals.
Therapies to beat driving anxiety after suffering a car accident
People after being involved in a car accident start feeling post-accident driving anxiety. Most of the people think that they might be involved in another accident. Some people feel so much fear to drive that they think they can get a panic attack while driving. Many other reasons become the reason to trigger driving anxiety in the people. The following therapies will help you to beat driving anxiety.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the most effective way to beat driving anxiety. In this therapy, your therapist helps you to control your feelings by developing confidence in yourself.
Self-Love
If you want to skip the psychotherapy process because you feel embarrassed in front of your friends and family you can take care of yourself. It is the same as psychotherapy, eating healthy and nutritional food, and spending time with friends will help you to come over your fear problem.
Driving Courses
You can also get driving courses that will increase your confidence to drive and you will also get some techniques and advice about your safety during driving.
How does your ICBC motor vehicle accident trauma therapy work?
On April 1st, 2019, ICBC updated under Section 28.1 and stated that, if a person met with an accident after April 1st, he would be pre-approved for counselling sessions without doctor referral within 12 weeks of the accident. You get pre-approved 12 sessions for 12 weeks from the date of the accident.
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