http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0801/p524.html
An accident can be life changing. Not just physically but mentally. Being involved in a vehicle accident can be a lot for anyone to deal with, which is why if you are in a similar situation or you know someone who was, pointing them in the direction to browse this site could help them out more than they think. Some people may not accept help, but once they know it is in their best interest, they will thank you for it. An accident with a tractor-trailer can leave the patient with a life-threatening injury or with PTSD as a result of what they’ve gone through. If this has happened to you then you deserve compensation. You should look for tractor trailer accident lawyers that can accommodate your needs. Once you have compensation you will be able to afford treatment for your injuries, mental or physical.
The goal of intervention is to enable the patient to re-establish psychologic equilibrium and return to pre-accident functioning, if possible.6,16 This can often be accomplished by discussing the motor vehicle accident, offering reassurance, educating the patient about PTSD, emphasizing coping strategies and prescribing medication when indicated.
Patients can achieve some control over their symptoms by sharing details of the accident in the safety of the examination room. The family physician may be the first professional to hear a comprehensive account of the events. Patients should be reassured that PTSD is a reaction to the stress of trauma, that it follows a predictable course and that it often resolves with timely intervention. People suffering from the effects of a traumatic incident like a vehicle accident, perhaps involving another driver in a company vehicle, may want to seek legal advice from someone like an Odessa company vehicle accident lawyer.
Educating patients about the traumatic effects of a motor vehicle accident begins by discussing PTSD symptoms and their prevalence among accident survivors.17,18 This normalizes the patient’s experience and may reduce any reluctance to disclose symptoms. Because some symptoms are delayed, highlighting symptoms during the examination may prevent the patient from overreacting later if the symptoms do occur. Reviewing symptoms also helps patients overcome the belief that PTSD is only associated with veterans of combat or the Vietnam war. Physicians are cautioned, however, to avoid symptom reviews with patients who are highly suggestible, have a history of somatization or are known to have initiated personal injury litigation.
Since PTSD involves anxiety responses, the family physician can teach relaxation techniques that the patient can practice at home. Moderate physical exercise or activity can also relieve hyperarousal symptoms and should be recommended in a manner consistent with the patient’s injuries.17
Medication has a potentially important role in the treatment of PTSD. Medication should be started as early as possible to help prevent later chronicity.19 Benzodiazepines and other medications that cause sedation may impair driving ability and should be used with caution. Despite concerns about side effects, however, medication can sometimes improve a person’s driving by lessening stress symptoms and breaking the vicious cycle that occurs when driving evokes painful memories and reactions to the accident trauma. Breaking this cycle of anxiety and stress is key to eventually getting this person back on the road. Whilst it may seem too soon to talk about them driving again, it’s important to do so when the person seems ready. Once they have completed the appropriate treatment methods, they might be ready to consider purchasing a new car to start afresh on the roads. If they’re happy to do so, it might be worth considering getting a used car, just in case they decide that they aren’t comfortable driving. Brand new cars can be too expensive to waste, so used cars can be a better option. When considering buying a car in Kansas, or somewhere more local, it could be a good idea to visit a car dealership to try and find a safe and reliable vehicle. That way, they can choose which car makes them feel most comfortable before purchasing it. Hopefully, they’ll be able to manage their PTSD and get back driving in their own time.
Since research in medication for PTSD has not been as extensive as in many other disorders, a trial-and-error process may be required20,21 (Table 320). To counteract the sense of powerlessness inherent in patients with PTSD, information about medications and control over medication decisions should be given to the patient as much as possible.