Negligence and Emotional Trauma
A major accident or assault can affect your life in many different ways. Following a serious injury, many people must cope with related medical expenses, missed work, reducing earning capacity, and lasting physical pain. For some, emotionally coping with what has happened is an additional struggle. In severe cases, the fear and pain of an unexpected catastrophe can become a debilitating psychological problem.
Psychologists define trauma as an event or series of events that push a person beyond his or her ability to cope. Such an occurrence can cause significant emotional pain that may resolve within days or weeks, or may creating long-term mental and physical problems. Many people require some sort of psychiatric assistance following a traumatic event. Unfortunately, such treatment can be costly in terms of both time and money.
Symptoms of Psychological Trauma
Depending on a patient’s circumstances, he or she may be diagnosed with acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or simply psychological trauma. These diagnoses all share similar symptoms, which can include:
- Reliving the initial traumatic event in nightmares, flashbacks, or other ways
- Anxiety or panic attacks in response to “triggers,” or reminders of the initial trauma
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or dangerous behavior
- Recurrent depression
- Difficulty forming personal relationships
- Emotional numbness or disassociation
Over time, symptoms like these can severely interfere with a person’s career, relationships, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, if people suffering from such symptoms decide to seek help from a professional specializing in trauma, the long-term treatment results are often positive. The sooner an affected person asks for help, the sooner his or her life can begin to improve.
Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney
Compensation for a personal injury can include repayment for emotional pain and the expense of any required psychiatric treatment. If you or a member of your family has suffered from a traumatic injury caused by another party’s careless actions, contact the Tampa personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. at 1-800-235-8978