When it comes to car accidents, you don’t need to have gone through an extreme one to come away with some after-effects. Even the most common form of traffic accident can leave you with some scars, visible and invisible. As long as there was some form of impact, there can be many physical and emotional effects of being in this kind of situation. According to County Line Chiropractic, an accident injury clinic in Pembroke Pines, “even a minor car accident injury can have long-term repercussions. Without proper treatment, the effects of any auto accident can continue to get worse over time. In order to truly move forward with your life, it’s important to get the help you need.” If you go through a car crash, what are some of the after-effects we can expect? Here are some of the things that can happen in the aftermath of a crash, and how to get the treatment that you need.
Airbag Dermatitis
Airbags are an important line of defense against the more serious effects of a car crash. When the airbag deploys on impact, it will cushion the blow and at least protect you from a larger injury. The challenge is, the deployment of an airbag does come with its own side effects. When an airbag deploys, it can leave you with irritation on your face and neck, because of the force with which it deploys and what’s inside the airbag. This is a little irritation that will subside, but if you’re concerned, you can see a doctor or a dermatologist help you with treatment.
Whiplash
When a car crash happens, the impact of it can be so immense that it forces your head to move forward in a very painful way. If you get rear-ended, you are very likely to experience some form of whiplash. A whiplash injury makes your muscles and ligaments go far beyond their range of motion which will lead to pain, stiffness, and other issues. Whiplash is something many car accident victims deal with, and it’s very important that you get treatment so that it doesn’t lead to worse injuries.
Seat Belt Syndrome
The force and impact of a car accident can also lead to scars, even when you’re wearing a seat belt. In fact, wearing a seatbelt can lead to what’s known as seat belt syndrome, where your neck, shoulders, abdomen, and areas that come in contact with the belt end up with abrasions and other injuries like tendon and muscle damage, and oftentimes it will leave a nasty seat belt shaped scar. Sometimes these injuries are just on the surface, but it’s very important to make sure that you have not suffered internal organ injuries as well. It’s very important to seek help to make sure that everything is fine and in working order.
Post-Traumatic Stress
The effects of a car accident, even a minor one, aren’t just physical. Going through a traumatic experience is going to impact you emotionally as well. It’s very common for people to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress in the weeks and months following the incident. The symptoms of this include feeling panicked and hyper vigilant, feeling anxious about getting into a car, not being able to sleep, isolation, constant reminders of the accident, and a general struggle to cope. Post traumatic stress is an ongoing issue, and you will definitely need treatment to help you heal from the trauma.
Guilt
If you feel like the accident was your fault, you might find yourself feeling guilty about people getting injured. Feelings of guilt can really overwhelm you and make it hard for you to cope emotionally, but it’s important to talk to someone and get through it. It’s natural to feel bad, but you have to forgive yourself so that you can truly heal from the trauma.
Being in a car accident is a challenging experience, and just because you were in a minor crash where no one got seriously injured, doesn’t mean that you won’t walk away with some effects. There are going to be a few after effects, and many of them are going to require some sort of treatment and help. Don’t feel bad about whatever you’re feeling. When we experience something that threatens our sense of safety, it will give us a ton of emotions and even smaller physical ailments. Remember to get the help that you need so that you can get back to living your life fully.