| Along with the signs of physical distress in the body | | | | processes from the spinal whiplash injury, can 'block' |
| following a car crash, car accident victims can also | | | | an individual and make them appear emotionally |
| suffer from a range of emotional after-effects | | | | disconnected. Slurred speech and communication |
| including depression, social phobia, anxiety disorders | | | | problems can also occur. |
| and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). | | | | A car accident victim suffering from whiplash or |
| PTSD (a mental disorder connected to trauma) | | | | compounded spinal injuries affecting the cervical |
| combined with the cognitive effects of whiplash injury | | | | vertebrae (connected to the brain and thought |
| affecting the cervical vertebrae in the neck can have | | | | processes) may, therefore, find that their recovery |
| complex consequences. | | | | from the accident is more difficult than they first think. |
| This is because the nerves in the neck region of the | | | | This may particularly show up in cognitive activities |
| spine are connected with thought processes and | | | | such as memory recall and the ability to function |
| mobility functionality (as the brain communicates with | | | | normally in the workplace. |
| the limbs to move and run, for example). This means | | | | PTSD and physical symptoms |
| that if a whiplash injury affects the neck and a car | | | | Poor brain-body co-ordination is also an expression of |
| accident victim has PTSD, they will end up | | | | PTSD and trauma release. During whiplash recovery, |
| experiencing a psychological double whammy. | | | | the spine and brain try to heal and communicate |
| What is post traumatic stress disorder? | | | | effectively with the relevant parts of the body that |
| PTSD is a traumatic emotional condition that occurs | | | | require mobility. |
| after exposure to a terrifying event or a series of | | | | Tripping, slipping, falling over and spilling or knocking |
| horrifying events. The latter can include physical | | | | things over are also common symptoms. Chiropractic |
| violence, rape, natural disasters, kidnappings, fire, abuse | | | | treatment is extremely effective at treating the spine, |
| (of any kind), terminal illnesses and car accidents. | | | | reducing subluxation and bringing the nerves back to |
| PTSD can occur at any age as a sudden, short-term | | | | their former state so that the body can work properly. |
| response to a very difficult situation that has been | | | | Therapies that assist in releasing locked trauma |
| experienced or as a long-term disturbing memory that | | | | The best thing a car accident victim with whiplash and |
| struggles to evacuate the body and mind. | | | | PTSD can do to help themselves is let their employer |
| The latter results in memory fragments being | | | | know that they have been through a traumatic time. It |
| processed over a period of time in the form of | | | | is also best to seek help through therapies such as |
| flashbacks and nightmares, causing insomnia and | | | | psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy |
| sleep-deprivation problems resulting in poor | | | | which can assist in releasing locked trauma: |
| concentration, attention deficit disorder and memory | | | | Psychotherapy |
| retention problems. | | | | A process when a patient talks to a psychiatrist, social |
| Car accidents and flashbacks | | | | worker or counsellor about a mental health condition. |
| Somebody suffering from PTSD may feel frequently | | | | Psychotherapy differs from traditional forms of |
| frightened and traumatised as they experience or | | | | counselling in that counselling deals with ordinary |
| re-live the trauma during flashbacks. Flashbacks can | | | | everyday problems and issues, while psychotherapy |
| be 'triggered' by a number of stimuli including images, | | | | generally deals with deeper mental and emotional |
| sounds, smells or connected feelings that have a | | | | problems. |
| strong correlation with the traumatic event. | | | | Cognitive behavioural therapy |
| A person experiencing a car accident flashback may | | | | This is a form of psychotherapy that emphasises the |
| lose all sense of reality and think they are still in the | | | | importance of thinking in how we feel and what we |
| past trauma and having the accident again. | | | | do. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is based on |
| Understandably, this may be traumatic for a loved one | | | | the scientific fact that thoughts cause feelings and |
| to watch. | | | | behaviour and aims to shift destructive thought |
| PTSD and emotional side-effects | | | | processes that are harmful or not helpful to you to |
| Survivor guilt (of having survived when other people | | | | create more positive thought processes that are |
| have died in a car accident) is also often a significant | | | | helpful to you. |
| aspect of PTSD. Somebody with PTSD may have an | | | | By unlocking trauma using the therapies above, the |
| advanced startle reflex, be emotionally numb, unable to | | | | brain and body have time to recover and the mind is |
| connect with other people and irritable or aggressive. | | | | freed up to concentrate on being present and carrying |
| These emotions, together with disjointed thought | | | | out tasks properly and logically. |