Accident-Related Anxiety

Many people have anxiety after an accident, whether it occurred in a car, on a motorcycle, or at work.  This anxiety can occur with just the thought of the activity.  After a car accident, some people have so much anxiety that it can often can make them more likely to have another car wreck.

Anxiety can look different and may include:

• panic attacks
• nightmares/difficulty sleeping
• fear of certain normal activities, like driving or riding in a car
• increased sweating
• heart palpitations
• shortness of breath
  
  

We offer specialized counseling that can help.  In one or two sessions, our specialized counselor can teach you cognitive behavioral techniques to get you back driving, riding as a passenger, or whatever you may be avoiding, without the disabling anxiety.

Panic Attacks after Car Accidents Are Common

When someone has past trauma, a minor accident can trigger serious panic attacks, flashbacks, and even nightmares. Some people have difficulty if they have seen a loved one seriously hurt in an accident.  Our specialized counselor can give patients specific training in how to managing these thoughts.

Effects on Children

Car accidents can also affect our children.  Anxiety from a car accident can cause our children to have nightmares/sleep poorly and, as a result, under-perform in school.  Sometimes, children just start taking on the pain of their parents.  Early counseling offers the clearest avenue to successful coping skills for all ages.  Our specialized counselors can give children specific training in how to managing these thoughts.

Ways To Manage Anxiety

In addition to counseling, there are many other options that we at After Accident Care may use and/or recommend to help patients manage anxiety.  These include:

• Meditation- Meditation is known for relieving stress and anxiety.  Research from John Hopkins suggests 30 minutes of daily meditation may alleviate some anxiety symptoms and act as an antidepressant.
• Exercise- Regular exercise can work as well as medication to ease anxiety for some people.
• Deep Breathing- intentional deep slow breathing can help to reduce anxiety and restore normal breathing pattern.
• Healthy Eating-  A well balanced diet and staying hydrated can help decrease anxiety.  This including decreasing alcohol and caffeine consumption and limiting foods that may be affecting your moods.
  
  

We find that helping people return to their lives with new tools to deal with stress and anxiety really makes a difference.