Living through a traumatic event such as a car accident, a violent crime or some other calamity often leaves people with physical and psychological injuries. Even when the physical injuries are severe, they tend to heal faster than the psychological ones.
If you went through something traumatic in which you suffered physical injuries, you probably focused on recovering from them. During that time, you may not have realized that you experienced trouble coping with what happened. Now that your body is healthy, your psychological injuries are coming to the surface, and you may not have the capacity to cope.
Are you experiencing these signs of PTSD?
You may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and not realize it. If you are struggling to understand what is happening to you, you may look for the following signs that you could suffer from a debilitating case of PTSD:
- You have flashbacks of the event as if you are reliving it.
- You can’t stop the memories of the event from coming to mind.
- You avoid talking about the event with others.
- You avoid people, places and more that remind you of the event.
- Things that remind you of the event cause you actual physical and emotional distress.
- You have nightmares about what happened to you.
- You have trouble sleeping or staying asleep.
- The smallest things frighten or startle you.
- You find it difficult to concentrate.
- You no longer enjoy activities you used to love.
- Your personal relationships are suffering.
- You experience angry outbursts and don’t understand why.
- You have become more aggressive.
- You feel detached from other people.
- You feel numb emotionally.
- You find it difficult to feel happiness or joy in anything.
- You no longer feel hopeful about the future.
- You are always guarded and defensive.
- You could experience depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and more.
You may also begin engaging in self-destructive behavior. For example, you may start drinking too much or driving too fast. If you experience one or more of the above, you may want to seek some help. PTSD can become quite debilitating. You may not want to leave your house, engage with other people or even work.
If you receive a diagnosis of PTSD and are unable to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to help support you and your family as you work through your issues. Applying for these benefits often presents a challenge, especially when it comes to mental illnesses. You may find it beneficial to work with an experienced New York attorney who can help you through this process while you focus on putting your life back together.