There is no doubt that a serious car accident can be extremely traumatizing. You or a loved one may have been seriously injured, and there may have been a loss of life. The entire experience can be overwhelming, resulting in a variety of strong emotions. It’s normal to be in shock and disbelief, angry at the other driver, anxious about driving again, or even guilty. In more extreme cases, some see flashbacks, have panic attacks, or experience insomnia.
For the most part, these emotions should start to fade after a while. On the other hand, some people’s lives are completely disrupted by these feelings. If your day-to-day functioning has been compromised due to the accident, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress.