Dealing with Emotions
Accident Aftermath:
How to Cope with Post-Collision Emotional Trauma
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported in 2017 alone, there were 7.3 million vehicle crashes and accidents. So if you’ve found yourself in a vehicle crash, you are not alone. Most people experience a car accident at some point in their lives, and while we all know to call the police, the tow company, and the insurance company, not many of us talk about the emotional trauma.
If you’re having trouble with emotions after a collision, here’s some coping strategies to help you manage:
Understand that collisions may be unavoidable
Many drivers involved in a car wreck will blame themselves for the accident—even if it wasn’t their fault. If you were driving at the time of the wreck, there may not be anything that you could’ve done to avoid it. You cannot control the actions of other drivers, environmental conditions, and countless other variables. Buckling up, staying alert, and abiding by all road rules is all that you can do behind the wheel. Even so, accidents still happen.
Talk to somebody about the wreck
If you are experiencing depression, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, or other negative symptoms as a result of the accident, keeping your feelings inside will only intensify them. Release your stress through communication. Whether it’s talking to a family member, friend, your medical doctor or a therapist, venting is a very healthy way to manage your emotions.
Commit to a healthy lifestyle
Vehicular accidents can cause physical and psychological harm to the body. Some coping strategies include the standards: eat well, exercise, and get an adequate amount of sleep each night.
Keep busy
Try to stay busy by picking up a new hobby. Reading a book, playing sports, gardening, or a number of other activities can add happiness to your life while keeping your mind off the accident.
Reach out; seek help
Don’t let it fester. Find ways to cope with your emotions.
Know that all is not lost. It can be stressful to be without your vehicle after an accident, but most accident repair can be fixed. You can even expect to have your vehicle back to looking like you never got into an accident! Call us at (316) 733-9310 and let the auto body experts at Collision Center of Andover take on the worry of your car’s repair. We provide all the services your car or truck needs following a collision including complete vehicle repaint and restoration, computerized frame and unibody alignment, and even glass repair and replacement. We work diligently to get your restored vehicle back to you as quickly as possible. Read more about how long you can expect auto body repair to take.
