Traffic Collision Injuries
This post is a part of a Special Event: Road Traffic Accident Awareness (masterpost for event) related to the UN's World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Traffic Injuries
Traffic injuries can create many long term or even permanent issues.
Musculoskeletal system injuries can cause chronic pain, reduced strength, limited range of motion, and reduced mobility. If the nerves are damaged, this can add to the above issues, cause more widespread paralysis and can also cuase reduced sensation or paraesthesia, abnormal sensations.
Burns, cuts and abrasions are suspectible to infection plus can reduce range of motion. Scar tissue may limit mobility and can really negatively impact one's body image.
Damage to organs can cause various issues which can greatly impact one's lifestyle.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) - head injuries are quite common in traffic collisions, and can be caused by direct contact to the head and by the sudden change in speed, causing the brain to collide with the inside of the skull.TBI effects can be greatly varied, depending on the area of the brain affected, the age at the time of injury and the severity of the injury. Common long term issues include lack of focus, memory problems, headaches, vision problems, coordination problems, lack of impulse control and issues with executive functions.
See more: Brainline and Brain Injury Canada
Mental and Physical - It's Complicated!
It's really difficult to cover all the long term effects a traffic injury can have, as they are so varied. These physical effects and the emotional trauma can compound each other.
Physical symptoms and limitations can be reminders of the collision and may trigger flashbacks. Multiple surgeries may be required which can bring up a lot of physical pain from the incident.
The physical and emotional effects from a collision are complex and they can interfere wtih healing processes. It's difficult to manage therapy for PTSD while dealing with surgeries, or when undergoing an exhaustive rehabilitation program plus the emotional pain of physical limitations can be a hit to mental health. The mental trauma effects may make it difficult to focus on physical therapies, sap motivation and affect one's capability to get to appointments. There can also be feelings such as shame or guilt and feeling like one deserves what happened and that they aren't deserving of help. One may also be fearful, and travelling to appointments may cause flashbacks or panic attacks.
Questions
Have you, or someone you know been affected by a traffic collision injury?
Did you find that physical and mental aspects complicated each other?
What did you find helpful with healing/what do you think may help someone who is struggling to manage the physical and mental effects of a collision?
Have you, or someone you know been affected by a traffic collision injury?
I've been ina few traffic collisions as a drive and passengar but luckily they were all fairly minor.
Did you find that physical and mental aspects complicated each other?
The most serious one occured in the process of getting my drivers licence. I think like many new drivers I already had some anxiety and the collision contributed more. I did need PT and that actually meant I had to drive welll outside of the radius I would typically be driving at that age which I think helped keep the driving anxiety from becoming worse. The whiplash I had did also affect my range of motion for shoulder checking, so that was a bit anxiety provoking. I do recall a time when a bunch of use were goofing around in class and a desk got rammed into the chair I was sitting in. I really hesistate to use the word flashback, but there was a split second of jolt of some memory, much of it moreso sensation based as I did have very fuzzy memories of the actual collision. I was rear ended when at a yield and when I found myself up on the grass having been pushed up a hard curb my first thought was that I had pulled out too far from the yield sign and the collision was due to the front of my car being too far out, not that I was hit from behind. Immediately following the accident I also had to deal with the other driver's road rage. Luckily the examinor dealt with her at the scene and then afterwards a police officer gave her a lecture. I think the emotional toll of the confusion regarding what happened immedately followed by being yelled once I exited the car slowed my awareness of my injuries.
What did you find helpful with healing/what do you think may help someone who is struggling to manage the physical and mental effects of a collision?
Having others deal with the brunt of the other driver's anger helped - she was unaware of the difference between a merge and a yield and was made at me for not merging into the traffic, so having 2 auhtority figures defending my actions was beneifical, especially considering my driving experience. Driving shortly after (although not that day!) helped the anxiety aspect. Getting into physiotherapy soon too helped with the physical, although at the beginning due to the inflammation there was much they were doing. I also did some things I would not recommend to others - I went to my retail job within 48 hours, that was pushing things physicaly plus it was draining. I also probably took too many dance classes while I was healing, I recall really stiffening up bad between classes, trying to do homework, especially on cold days and it didn't ease up during the next class. It would have been better to have stuck to a max of 1/day, done a bit of gentle stretching after and done homework not on a cold floor!
@AffyAvo
Have you, or someone you know been affected by a traffic collision injury?
The one that comes to my mind is an accident I saw 2 years ago on my birthday. I will spare the details, but a motorcyclist passed away. I still have some PTSD nightmares from it and avoid the road when possible.
Did you find that physical and mental aspects complicated each other?
I think they can in many ways.
What did you find helpful with healing/what do you think may help someone who is struggling to manage the physical and mental effects of a collision?
Take it one day at a time. Realize every day will not be progress, but that is okay. If they don't remember what happened, pushing for answers right away might not be a good idea. Healing isn't linear, and they should know they are not alone. Support groups and counseling along with types of therapy are great places to start.
@Itisbailey Oh that's rough, on a day that should be celebratory for you. You've offered some great tips, I really agree that healing isn't linear!
@AffyAvo
Have you, or someone you know been affected by a traffic collision injury? Yes...I lost my oldest brother and I have a TBI
Did you find that physical and mental aspects complicated each other? Ima not Exactly sure what that means, but, I have psychial problems such delayed growth and development, memory loss and trouble remembering things. Mental I have DID,
What did you find helpful with healing/what do you think may help someone who is struggling to manage the physical and mental effects of a collision? Therapy,,try not to isolate, get with a support group, and 7 cups is definitely a good place to start.
Hang tough stay pawsome ur friend 🔥
@Fireskye13 You have some great tips after going through a major loss. Sorry that happened to you, but thanks for participating and hopefully that will help others! 
This was very informative
Thankful I have never experienced this nor anyone I know
@scarletPear1945 Thanks! I'm glad you haven't been negatively impacted by this.
@AffyAvo
@AffyAvo This is a great post Affy :) Thank you for the work you put into it
Have you, or someone you know been affected by a traffic collision injury?
Tbh - I'm not sure. I think there was an aunt who was in an accident
Did you find that physical and mental aspects complicated each other?
Definitely! If you physically hurt it can and will affect the way you're feeling mentally. Adding to any depression or anxiety - which if you're stressed that's also going to affect you physically too
What did you find helpful with healing/what do you think may help someone who is struggling to manage the physical and mental effects of a collision?
I think some of the biggest things would be to be patient and understanding. If someone is hurt in a car accident it's probably going to make them fearful of going away in a car. Don't speed. Maybe take a different route if something happened on a certain road or a highway. Maybe take the back roads instead. If it's causing them a great deal of stress - maybe stop somewhere to give them a few minutes before continuing the drive. Yelling at them or telling them it's no big deal or telling them to get over it isn't going to help and will only make them feel worse
@mytwistedsoul Thanks! That's such a great point about anxiety and depression also have physical effects.
@mytwistedsoul
Ansoulty agree, telling people to get over it or it's no big deal, is belittling what they going through.