Dealing with post-traumatic stress in accident victims

Tawanda Mvere
Despite improvements in the state of roads, vehicle safety and driver education in Zimbabwe, thousands of people are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents each year.  During the year 2014 festive season alone 1,012 accidents were recorded from the 15th of December to the 27th causing 589 injuries.

Motor traffic injuries have left  victims with serious bodily injury and psychological distress.  Between 10 and 45% of those injured later suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can interfere with their daily functioning.  There are other non symptomatic signs that affect them, like having trouble on the job and in school, maintaining friendship and not being able to enjoy leisure time.

We are starting yet another Easter holiday and people will begin travelling today, often to their rural homes or holiday destinations ahead of Good Friday tomorrow and they will return to their homes or urban bases on Easter Monday.  Many accidents tend to happen during this busy holiday as well.  This, unfortunately, can happen this year again.

We urge motorists to drive safely to avoid injury to self and others.

Broken bones and soft tissue injuries are first taken care of after a car accident, the emergency room and primary care medical doctors along with the physical therapist end up becoming the gate keepers to other caretakers.  Psychological assessment of a patient after a traffic accident is seldom considered unless the accident was unusual or life threatening, or if the patient’s symptoms are obviously debilitating.  Screening for PTSD is important, however, because early treatment can prevent the occurrence of symptoms.   Many symptoms do not manifest until patients attempt to resume daily activities.  Knowing about PTSD symptoms would be very important in making an appropriate referral.  Primary care physicians and the general public need to be sensitised to symptoms of PTSD.

Also because of the debilitating effects that car accidents can have and the necessity of daily driving in many people’s lives, it is crucial to have services available to those suffering from the repercussions of an accident.  One has to be able to drive a car or be a passenger without experiencing severe anxiety.

PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types, intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, or changes in emotional reactions.

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include;

-Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
-Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
-Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
-Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event
Symptoms of avoidance may include:
-Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
-Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
-Negative feelings about yourself or other people
-Inability to experience positive emotions
-Feeling emotionally numb
-Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
-Hopelessness about the future
-Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
-Difficulty maintaining close relationships

Symptoms of changes in emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:
-Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behaviour
-Always being on guard for danger
-Overwhelming guilt or shame
-Self-destructive behaviour, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
-Trouble in concentrating
-Trouble in sleeping
-Being easily startled or frightened

PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you’re stressed in general, or when you run into reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a car accident and feel overcome by memories of your own motor accident.

When to see a psychologist/psychiatrist

If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your health care professional. Get treatment as soon as possible to help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.  In Zimbabwe we have registered psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists who can be looked up in local directories.  In addition, we have mental health services provided at government institutions such as Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo and Annex in Harare.

If you have suicidal thoughts

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away through one or more of these resources:
-Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
-Contact a minister, a spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
-Make an appointment with your doctor, mental health provider, counsellor or other health care professional.

During this Easter Holiday we urge all motorists to drive safely to avoid road carnage.  Alcohol/drugs affect a person’s ability to make crucial driving decisions, such as braking, steering or changing lanes.  Remember, you are not the only one in danger when you decide to drink and then drive, so avoid it!

*The writer is a Senior Pastor at Balm of Gilead World Ministries and Executive Director of Christian Counselling and Depression Trust.  Christian Counselling and Depression Trust is a non-profit making organisation based in Bulawayo, whose primary purpose is to raise awareness on mental health disorders as well as provide Christian Counselling.  For further information contact Pastor Tawanda Mvere on 0733 207 898/email [email protected]

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