Recovery after a car accident can involve emotional symptoms as well as physical injuries. Tell your treating physician about changes in sleep, mood, concentration, or your ability to drive, work, and take part in daily activities.
Stress symptoms and PTSD
Nightmares, unwanted memories, avoiding reminders of the crash, feeling detached, irritability, and being easily startled can occur after trauma. These symptoms do not automatically mean you have PTSD. A clinician evaluates their pattern, duration, impact, and other possible causes. PTSD symptoms must persist for more than one month and interfere with daily life, but you do not need to wait a month to seek support.
Discuss emotional symptoms during injury follow-up
Florida Injury Centers provides physician-led auto injury care. Share when symptoms began, how they have changed, and specific activities that have become difficult. Your physician can consider emotional concerns alongside pain, medications, sleep, and other injury-related symptoms, and help coordinate referral when indicated.
Mental health professionals with experience in trauma can evaluate your needs and recommend treatment. PTSD treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or both. The appropriate approach depends on your individual assessment.
Request injury-care follow-up
Call 866-402-4250 to discuss physician-led injury care. Learn about our telemedicine evaluation and ongoing follow-up.
Get immediate help when needed
For thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.
Florida Injury Centers — Florida’s Medical Home for Injury Care.
Patient education resource: National Institute of Mental Health: PTSD.