Injuries Cause Anxiety and Depression

Accident victims usually focus on their physical injuries first – their head trauma, broken bones, spinal cord damage, muscle damage, and other injuries. Victims with traumatic brain injuries, for example, often lose the ability to do many simple physical tasks such as drive, dress, read, and other daily functions. TBI victims usually also suffer a loss of cognitive function. But accident victims often suffer emotionally, too. Whether an injury is caused by a car accident, a construction accident, a fall, or any other reason, it’s critical to address the psychological harm as well as the physical harm.

A recent National Law Review article discussed how accidents cause anxiety and depression.

What are the signs of depression?

Depression is “a feeling of sadness, loss, or despair that interferes with someone’s life and does not improve over time.” Common symptoms include:

• Concentration difficulties
• Feeling hopeless
• Difficulty sleeping
• Appetite changes
• Feeling guilty or worthless
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Lack of energy
• Withdrawing from others
• Thoughts of suicide

Anxiety is different than depression. Anxiety is defined as overwhelming feelings of nervousness or fear. While many people are anxious on occasion, panic attacks are a form of severe anxiety.

The National Law Review article emphasizes that many accident victims, especially TBI victims, aren’t aware that they’re suffering from depression or anxiety – which means they delay getting the help they need until someone (a doctor, a family member, a friend) speaks to them about their problem and their need for help.

There are some self-help steps everyone can take to minimize depression and anxiety such as:

• Exercising
• “Reducing environmental stresses or triggers”
• Seeking help from people who care about you when life gets stressful
• Having daily structured activities

Medical help includes:

• Counseling with psychologists and other mental health professionals
• Prescription medications
• A combination of psychotherapy and medications

Recovering from anxiety and depression after a personal injury is especially difficult because the victims often must recover from their physical injuries as well. In fact, the inability or slowness in recovering from physical injuries often adds to or causes a victim’s depression or anxiety. In addition, many accident victims suffer emotionally after an accident because they worry about paying their bills and the stresses their health condition is placing on their spouse and children.

If you’ve been injured in any type of accident, you have the right to seek medical help for BOTH your physical and psychological injuries.

At Philbrook Law, our Vancouver, WA personal injury lawyers have helped thousands of personal injury victims obtain just settlements and verdicts. We demand damages for BOTH your physical pain and your emotional suffering. We demand payment for your medical bills, including psychological bills, and your lost income. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, call our offices in Vancouver or Battle Ground, WA at 360-695-3309 or use our contact form to discuss your right to hold the people who caused the accident accountable.