Physical Symptoms That Often Accompany Emotional Distress After An Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 10 million car accidents throughout the United States reported to the police in 2012. If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle accident, you know how long it takes to recover from the bumps, bruises and broken bones. However, what you might not have anticipated was the emotional distress and how it could affect you physically. Here are a few physical signs of emotional distress you shouldn't ignore:
Your Eating Habits Are Different
Have you suddenly gained a few pounds, or conversely, lost a small or significant amount of weight? Do you find yourself turning to food whenever you feel anxious, or are having trouble eating due to gastrointestinal issues?
A sudden weight gain or loss, no matter how minimal or drastic, can be a physical manifestation of emotional distress.
According to Nemours, binge eating is often a reaction to an emotionally stressful situation, such as a car accident. Sometimes, you feel out of control, and the only thing you can control in your life is how much food you consume.
If you suddenly are having an unhealthy relationship with food, whether it's overeating or restricting your caloric intake, you could be suffering from emotional distress. Don't hesitate to speak to a professional immediately about the underlying issues still impacting your life after the accident.
Trouble Sleeping and Bad Dreams
Most people have trouble sleeping and the occasional bad dream, but if your insomnia and nightmares are having a dramatic impact on your everyday life, the root cause might be your emotional distress.
Aside from the aches and pains of the trauma you suffered during the accident, the anxiety and depression you might be experiencing can also make it difficult for you to get a decent night's sleep.
According to the Sleep Disorder Guide, when you suffer through an emotionally stressful situation, you often feel a sense of anger or that you could have done something differently. If you also injured another driver or a member of your family during the accident, this emotional distress could also lead to your insomnia and bad dreams.
Whatever the case, it's important to determine if the emotional distress you're experiencing because of your car accident is the reason why you're grappling with insomnia, or if there is another underlying physical issue. These could include Parkinson's disease, diabetes or issues with substance abuse.
Your Fuse Is A lot Shorter
Were you always considered an easy going individual in the past, but after the accident, you find yourself yelling and flying into a rage after the slightest provocation? If so, the issue might be the emotional distress associated with your car accident.
From the stress of dealing with the accident's aftermath coupled with your physical pain can easily zap your patience, causing you to snap at people much more easily. Unfortunately, this initial blow up can cause a domino effect of anger, resentment, anxiety and depression.
If your patience is drained and you cannot handle simple social interaction with friends, family members or co-workers, don't suffer another minute longer and instead, learn about how emotional distress is impacting your life.
Suffering with the physical and psychological symptoms of emotional distress, including insomnia and changes to your eating habit, can have a profoundly negative impact days, months or years after the injuries you suffered during the accident have healed. If you believe the car accident has made your life much worse, don't hesitate to speak to an attorney to understand the legal ins and outs associated with taking the other party to court.
Check out sites like http://www.atlanticcanadainjurylawyers.com for more information.