Worries, Fears and Anxiety Disorders / Question
Published: June 19, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
On March 8th, 2003, my mother, sister, and I were in a near fatal car accident. We were hit head on by a drunk driver; each car was going at least 70 miles per hour. It's been over 3 months now, and I still am having problems physically, mentally, and emotionally. I can't even get in the front seat of a car anymore. How can I get over this fear and put the awful situation behind me?
Signed: Near Fatal Car Crash
Dear Near Fatal Car Crash,
TeenHealthFX is sorry to hear about your experience. What you describe is a very traumatic event and people who have been through extremely traumatic events such as you and your family, frequently suffer from symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Here are some ways to recognize PTSD:
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Re-experiencing the event through vivid memories or flashbacks.
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Feeling "emotionally numb"
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Feeling overwhelmed by what would normally be considered everyday situations and diminished interest in performing normal tasks or pursuing usual interests.
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Crying uncontrollably
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Isolating oneself from family and friends and avoiding social situations.
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Relying increasingly on alcohol and drugs to get through the day.
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Feeling extremely moody, irritable, angry suspicious or frightened.
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Having difficulty falling or staying asleep, sleeping too much and experiencing nightmares.
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Feeling guilty about surviving the event or being unable to solve the problem, change the events or prevent the disaster.
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Feeling fears and sense of doom about the future.
Whether you have PTSD or are feeling overwhelmed and having trouble with your day-to-day functioning then you should seek professional counseling to help you get past the traumatic event and get back to a way of life that you are comfortable with. Since this incident impacted several members of your family it may be helpful if you all were able to attend therapy together. Even though other members of the family may not be experiencing the same difficulty as you, it is not uncommon for emotional problems to appear several months after the traumatic event. So by getting the rest of the family involved you may be sparing them the struggles that you are going through now.
If you live in northern New Jersey and would like help finding a therapist you can contact the Access Center From Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Less than 33% of teens with depression get help, yet 80% of teens with depression can be successfully treated if they seek help from a doctor or therapist.
