PTSD: The Emotional Aftermath of Injury
A major injury can have many lasting effects on a person’s life. Some people are left with physical disabilities or chronic pain; some are left with medical bills that threaten their financial security. Many people are left with lingering emotional or psychological effects of the accidents they suffered. While these negative emotions will fade over time for most people, a few will be left with an extreme form of psychological trauma known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
If you have been injured by another party’s careless or reckless behavior, you could be eligible for compensation for your emotional harm, as well as your physical injuries. To learn more, call the Des Moines personal injury attorneys of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. at 877-327-2600.
Symptoms of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can greatly interfere with a person’s day-to-day functioning by creating symptoms such as:
- Reliving the traumatic event in nightmares, flashbacks, or recurrent memories
- Obsessive avoidance of anything that reminds you of the event
- Hyperarousal (persistent insomnia, agitation, paranoia, etc)
PTSD can be effectively treated with therapy and sometimes medication. However, the healing process can take time and may be costly. An experienced Des Moines personal injury lawyer can inform you about receiving the compensation you need to cover the costs of your treatment.
Risk Factors for PTSD
A person can develop PTSD after an experience in which his or her life was put in danger, or seemed to be. Of course, not everyone develops a lasting disorder after experiencing this kind of event. It is difficult to predict who will suffer lasting emotional harm after an accident, as many complex personal variables can be involved. Some risk factors include experiencing extreme fear during the event, having little social support, and suffering from additional stressors after the event.
Contact Us
The Des Moines personal injury attorneys at LaMarca & Landry, P.C. strive to help our clients receive fair compensation for all of their losses, whether physical or psychological. To discuss your case, contact us today at 877-327-2600.
