Navigating post accident ptsd: my story

Trauma, Stress, PTSD
1

I used to be on top of the world. Living life with such joy, the every day seemed manageable and beautiful. But as you know, life is unpredictable and I was in a car crash. It changed everything for me almost instantly. The physical pain was traumatizing, but soon after, I began to experience immense emotional distress.

Living with post accident PTSD has been difficult to say the least. Nightmares, anxiety attacks, and flashbacks are among some of my daily struggles. I felt overwhelmed and alone as if no one could truly understand what I was going through or how it felt for me so personally.

I decided that enough was enough and knew it was time to reach out for help. After visiting my doctor they prescribed medication which worked wonders and helped ease the intensity of my episodes significantly! Also finding a therapist who specializes in PTSD patients made all the difference in the world as it gave me an outlet where I felt safe enough to express myself completely without judgment or fear of consequences.

One thing that’s been helping me significantly is ensuring that I set small daily goals with rewards afterwards! This keeps me focused while allowing self-care time which is absolutely crucial when navigating post accident PTSD - something I’ve come to learn over time!

My journey hasn’t been easy - but at least now I have resources and a procedure that keeps me functioning in a healthy way moving forward!

1 Like
2

Hey there,

I understand what you’re going through and can truly relate. At 50, I also found myself experiencing immense emotional distress after a car crash. It impacted my life in ways that I never could have anticipated. It was a hard pill to swallow but over the last few years, I’ve been able to find strategies that have helped me cope and manage my PTSD symptoms.

My first suggestion is to talk to your doctor about treatment options available. Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral if you feel like you need more help afterwards. For me this made a huge difference as it provided me with much needed relief from my trauma symptoms.

Secondly, consider finding a therapist who specializes in treating PTSD patients and is willing to provide a supportive environment where you can express yourself without fear or judgement. A quality therapist will listen attentively and help you establish goals so that you don’t become overwhelmed by the experience of therapy itself.

Finally, remember to practice self-care daily - even little things such as taking an extra few minutes before bed each night or carving out an hour for yourself in the middle of the day can really make a difference in how you feel on a daily basis. Setting small goals for yourself with rewards afterwards