Of all the high-stress events that life has to offer, being involved in a motor accident is generally considered to be right up there as one of the worst – especially if you happen to be in a car accident while parked.
Not only will you have to contend with the immediate financial and practical inconvenience of damage to your car, but you may even walk away from the crash yourself with a few visible or invisible scars and injuries. Issues like lasting neck, back, and joint pain are amongst some of the most common lingering impacts following high-impact motor collisions, but there are also very real risks of fractures and broken bones.
So how can you juggle tending to your immediate medical concerns alongside speaking with insurance providers, police, and coordinating with your mechanic? Below, we’ll be outlining our top stress management tips to follow in the aftermath of a motor accident. Be sure to keep these recommendations handy to help you prioritise your own mental, physiological, and emotional health and wellbeing following a road accident.
Keep your insurance processes as simple as possible
One of the main stress concerns that go through a driver's mind after an accident besides injury is cost of damages and repairs. This is why finalising insurance preparations proactively is a top priority immediately following a motor collision. Being proactive with filing claims is essential here, as the sooner you get in touch with your insurance providers, the sooner your claim will be processed and the funds for repairs sent to your account.
It’s also well worth picking your insurance provider and policy carefully to make sure you maintain access to the strongest possible support. For instance, taking out a comprehensive car insurance policy may provide you with access to more support services when compared to a standard third party policy. There’s generally also less paperwork for filing claims under a comprehensive policy, and reduced risks of being left in the lurch if the other party has committed a hit and run and failed to exchange license or insurance details with you.
So do yourself a favour, and get all of these administrative details surrounding insurance claims finalised as quickly as possible. That way, you can guarantee your claim is backed by the most current, up-to-date information, supporting your provider in facilitating a swift resolution to your claim.
Return to regular activities
While it may seem more natural to address the trauma of the event, once you are cleared of any physical injury, it’s definitely wise to gain a gradual and consistent return to your usual routine and hobbies after the accident as part of your recovery. This isn’t to say that you should go out and play a game of tennis the next day, but recognising that once your claim is with your insurance provider, there’s no point in sitting at home and worrying yourself into knots.
If you have accrued some muscle or joint injuries in the accident, why not start slow by taking yourself on a gentle evening walk? You’ll find the gentle exercise to be a natural stress reliever, alongside helping work some potentially sore or tired muscles.
Note, too, that if you do want to take a day to relax, you’re well within your rights to do so. Simply book a mental health day with your employer and cite your recent motor collision and need to recover from it as the reason for your leave request if needed. Your GP should also be able to provide a medical certificate corroborating your need to address any pain or mental distress that may be resulting from the accident.
Lean on your support network
The shock of an accident can often leave you feeling emotional and anxious, and perhaps even leave you experiencing some PTSD-like symptoms like a worry that you may be involved in a motor accident again. For some, the shock following a motor collision can lead to feelings of overwhelm, or can even trigger reclusive behaviours (i.e. wanting to withdraw from anything that could trigger memories of the event).
Rest assured, that all of this is a perfectly normal response to physical and emotional trauma. So when going through a stressful life occurrence like a car accident, it can be helpful to open up to a person you trust, or a professional.
Whether it’s speaking with a close friend, working with a mental health service that specialises in motor collisions (like TAC’s mental health and wellbeing services, for instance), or joining a support group, knowing and understanding that you are not alone can be a great step to managing the psychological trauma you may experience immediately following your road accident.
Write down your thoughts
If you're finding it difficult to discuss your experience with others, it can be a good idea to write about what you're thinking. Alongside being a healthy way of combating risks of burnout in your day-to-day, the act of journaling can also help to release any stress and anxiety you may feel, and allow you to understand your emotions and process your thoughts following a motor collision.
In fact, therapists often recommend journaling to trauma patients as an activity that supports recovery in a few different ways, from providing a safe space to realise and process thoughts surrounding a traumatic incident, to supporting patients in writing down what they are grateful for. Gratitude practice in particular can be helpful in encouraging patients to acknowledge their feelings to trauma and evaluating how their trauma affects them over time.
By writing from a certain point of view, you may also be able to gain a new perspective and see the world and your life in a new way post-trauma. So let yourself declutter mentally by channelling all your concerns into your hand and through to the nib of your pen.
Set a good sleep schedule
Finally, never underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. Even though it can be all too easy to find yourself tossing and turning on the nights following a motor collision, it’s imperative that you maintain structure to your daily life by using good rest as a foundation for your ongoing wellness.
If you’re finding it difficult to relax due to lingering tension or pain resulting from whiplash and other injuries, then consider speaking with your GP for a pain medication prescription, or using over the counter medications as needed. You can also use melatonin and other sleep remedies to support your restfulness every evening.
Alongside this, try to keep your nightly and morning routines as consistent as possible to provide a sense of normalcy to your days. With good rest, you can make sure you’re well-positioned to maintain other healthy hobbies as well, like exercising regularly and eating well to further support your recovery after a motor collision.
Recovering from a motor accident at your own pace
Remember that recovering from a road accident of any scale will take some time – so be patient with yourself. You may find that even after your insurance money comes through and the repairs to your vehicle are all finalised, you’re still finding yourself feeling a little wary of stopping at a red light in fear you may be rear-ended, or trusting someone to merge in front of you safely, or hit their brakes on time.
The important thing to remember is that you have the skills you need to keep yourself safe on the road and react accordingly if anything were to happen again. You’ve been through it all once or twice before, you know the gameplan, and you know exactly what supports are available to you. There’s a lot of comfort to be found in keeping all of these truths in mind.
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