Victims hurt in a Florida car crash, slip and fall or as the result of careless doctors usually seek immediate medical attention for their physical pain and suffering. Rarely is any focus put on the more difficult to diagnose trauma known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, P.T.S.D. As a Miami PI attorney, I am alarmed if I hear a client complain about sleep loss, terrible images being replayed in their head, or feelings of guilt or fear.
Granted, the majority of our clients who suffer these normal post-trauma reactions to one degree or another recover and return to a relatively normal state within weeks or months of an accident. However, some do not. A small percentage of people get trapped in their trauma and experience chronic P.T.S.D.
The way one copes with emotional trauma is far more complex than once thought. One of the challenges in diagnosing P.T.S.D. lies in the fact that the symptoms often do not surface for weeks or months after the event. Signs of P.T.S.D. can, according to the Mayo Clinic, take years to develop.
Generally, P.T.S.D. is grouped into three classes: Intrusive Memories, Avoidance or Emotional Arousal. Symptoms of intrusive memories typically include flashbacks and nightmares of the event. Symptoms of Avoidance include feelings of numbness, hopelessness and memory problems. Symptoms of Increased Emotional Arousal may include. irritability, guilt, shame, trouble sleeping or self-destructive behavior.
Often, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can come and go. The symptoms can intensify when the person is under more stress in general. In addition, symptoms can be brought up by seeing a movie, the smell of a familiar scent or a hearing a song.
If feelings persist or interfere with the quality of one’s life, our Aventura traumatic brain injury law firm recommends that you seek immediate medical attention. It is important, that if as as a result of the accident or trauma you had lost consciousness, even for just a few seconds, you relate this history to your doctor.
The symptoms of those who have suffered a head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI), sometimes mimic and overlap those of post-traumatic stress disorder. Many people believe you have to have had a serious head injury to suffer a traumatic brain injury. This is simply not true. There are plenty of studies which show that brain injuries can occur without direct contact to the head. For example, when a person suffers whiplash from a rear-end car accident, the brain may be shaken within the skull. This damage can cause bleeding between the brain and skull.
Our South Florida accident lawyers are deeply committed to helping our clients rebuild their lives after a catastrophic accident. We work closely with neurologists, neuropyschologists and psychiatrist to make sure our clients are properly evaluated and cared for longer after their case resolves. As sometimes, the emotional damage leaves behind emotional scars more painful than some physical injuries.