Can a Car Accident Cause Depression?
Car accidents can come with many unfortunate complications. You can experience serious injuries that require weeks or months in a hospital. If you sustain a permanent disability, that treatment can extend to the rest of your life. Between the costs of this medical care, damage to your vehicle, and lost work time, you could find yourself in financial straits in the future.
But one potential downside of getting into a collision often flies under the radar. For some people, getting into a car accident can be the inciting incident that causes depression. Here is what you need to know about this underrecognized danger of auto accidents.
How Car Accidents Can Cause Depression
The good news is that long-term depression is not a common consequence of car accidents. Unfortunately, this also means that many people fail to recognize the onset of depression after a crash because they don’t know that they should look for it.
If you begin to notice the symptoms of depression in any of the following situations, make sure to seek help from a healthcare professional.
Stress Response Syndrome
A car accident is a stressful situation. However, in most people, that stress dissipates quickly because the accident is not recurring. If you continue to experience elevated stress weeks or months after a car accident, you may be experiencing stress response syndrome, which is also referred to as an adjustment disorder.
While this syndrome can go away naturally, it can also worsen into depression. This stress response can also lead to interpersonal problems, substance use, or the loss of your job.
Long-Term Medical Care
Even if the car accident itself doesn’t create a stress response, it could result in a catastrophic injury that requires long-term medical care. The need for this medical care can become the cause of depression in several ways.
For example, if you are partially disabled or your medical treatments are uncomfortable or painful, a feeling of helplessness can build up over time. Eventually, that can turn into depression. This is particularly common in car accident victims who require amputation. Between the pain of treatment and the loss of freedom, many amputees can suffer depression.
Additionally, even if you don’t suffer physically, the costs of medical care are often quite high in Colorado. If you start to become financially unstable due to an accident, you could feel like you have no control over your life, eventually resulting in depression.
Concern For Another
Some people who develop depression after a car accident aren’t even involved in the accident. For instance, suppose that your spouse was severely injured in a crash. You might suddenly find yourself as the primary caregiver of someone who is disabled. People in that situation often suffer depression.
The reasons that you might suffer depression in this scenario are varied. A frequent one is that there is a new type of stress in your life that you have little control over. Feeling like you are helpless is one of the most common signs of depression. This can create a dangerous situation for you and for the person you are caring for.
Death of a Loved One
Finally, if a loved one dies in a car accident, that can easily cause depression. Grief can evolve into depression, especially when a loved one dies suddenly or under traumatic circumstances.
Dealing With Depression From a Car Accident
The stress and trauma of car accidents can lead to depression in a number of ways. If you notice your behavior changing after you or a loved one is in a collision, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. A healthcare professional can determine the precise cause of your depression and guide you on a path forward to healing.
Contact our Denver Car Accident Law Firm Today For Help
For more information please contact Zaner Harden Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation with a Denver car accident lawyer.
Zaner Harden Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120. Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
24/7
