PTSD is a Risk for Victims of Serious Injuries

Serious injuries can have a life-altering impact on your physical well-being.  Extensive surgery and medical treatment, long-term physical therapy, and permanent loss in physical function and ability are just a few of the physical symptoms that a victim of serious injury may experience.  While great focus and attention is given to the obvious physical symptoms of a serious injury, the lingering emotional and mental health symptoms often go undiagnosed and untreated.

What Counts as a Serious Injury?

A serious injury is a sudden trauma to the body that requires immediate treatment at a hospital.  Many events can cause a serious injury to occur, such as: a slip-and-fall accident, a car accident, severe burns, assault, a workplace accident, or sports accident.  Due to advancements in medical science, most individuals who experience a serious injury will recover both physically and emotionally.  However, as many as 10 to 20 percent of serious injury victims are at risk of developing a long-term anxiety problem, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a set of reactions that can develop in people who have experienced a terrifying or life-threatening event.  According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, certain criteria must be met for a diagnosis of PTSD.  An individual must have experienced or witnessed some type of trauma and suffer from at least one of the following symptoms:

• recurrent, involuntary, intrusive thoughts or memories of the trauma,
• recurrent distressing dreams of the event
• reliving the experience; flashbacks
• intense physical or emotional distress after exposure to trauma reminders

PTSD victims also often experience symptoms of avoidance, such as avoidance of any thoughts, places, persons, or activities associated with the trauma.

How Does PTSD Effect Victims of Serious Injury?

PTSD is an extremely debilitating anxiety disorder.  It can result in a severe loss of skill or ability.  Many who suffer from PTSD find themselves unable to complete even simple everyday activities.  They also often experience loss socially and in their work environment.

Once recognized, PTSD and other forms of depression or anxiety can be treated.  Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals can help victims of serious injury through therapy, medication, and support groups.  Recovery from PTSD can be achieved, but the road to recovery is long and tiresome and requires constant support from family and friends.

An Injury Lawyer Can Help Victims of PTSD

If you or someone you love has experienced a serious or catastrophic injury in the state of Kentucky that resulted in the development of a mental health disorder, such as PTSD, a Louisville personal injury lawyer can help.  The treatment for restoring your mental health can be expensive and long-term.  And if the traumatic event you experienced was not your fault, rather it was due to the negligence of another person or a business or property owner, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation to pay for your mental health recovery.

Thomas Law Offices understands the mental health risks that victims of serious injury face.  Our legal team is dedicated to helping you and your loved ones find complete recovery and return to a normal life both physically and emotionally.  Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation of your case.