An accident can leave you feeling emotionally shattered, unable to trust the people or places you used to find familiar and burdened by residual stress. You may feel psychologically fragile, suffer from nightmares, tension, feelings of numbness and even anger. The most important part of your recovery is to realise and remember that your reactions are perfectly normal; there is no shame in the way you are feeling and there are plenty of different ways in which you can seek help, advice and a path to emotional stability that is right for you.
Your accident likely made you feel that your life or safety was threatened and although the physical danger is out of the way, it can leave deep emotional scars. It is good to remember that everybody reacts differently to stress and upset, so whatever the effects of your accident, you are reacting in a natural way that is personal to you. There are multiple symptoms you may feel, from insomnia to denial, mood swings, fatigue and depression, but whatever your feelings, there is a way to resolve them. Here are some helpful tips on ways you can use to come to a full psychological recovery in the aftermath of your accident.
Friendly Chat
When you’ve been through something stressful, it is likely you will be left feeling alone with your problems, isolated from those close to you and you may even feel the need to become reclusive. Although hiding away might seem like an optimum strategy, the likelihood is you will only end up feeling worse. Try talking to a friend, relative or colleague that you feel comfortable sharing your feelings with. They say a problem shared is a problem halved and your confidant may even have been through something similar. Getting those niggling thoughts off your chest can provide a huge amount of relief and socialising will help you to feel less alone when you need it most.
Write It Down
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to others about your experiences or emotions, why not write them down? Diary-keeping might seem like a teenage past-time, but writing down your feelings can help you to get rid of recurring thoughts, understand why you are feeling the way you do and help you come to terms with it. Afterwards, some people find it useful to destroy this writing, by ripping or shredding the paper, or even burning it in a safe and responsible manner, as this can help them to feel as though their problems have also been destroyed through this symbolic action. Alternatively, you may find it helpful to keep your written thoughts and use them as a point of reflection afterwards, helping you to keep a record of progression when it comes to your emotional well-being.
Call the Doctor
If you feel as though you are struggling with everyday life, or your trauma is affecting you more than you feel you can cope with, your GP is a great point of call. As well as being able to prescribe medical treatments, such as stress-relief programmes, support groups and even medications to help you cope with your symptoms, your GP can point you in the right direction when it comes to out-of-hours support, such as hotlines you can call or charities that specialise in helping those struggling with trauma.