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Teen Car Accident, Part Two
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| Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 | Robert Seith | CWK Producer |
“It's very common for people after they've had a car accident to have some feelings of anxiety or stress related to the accident. Probably four out of five people who are involved in car accidents will have some sort of an acute stress reaction to that accident.”
– Dr. Mike Ziegler, M.D., Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Teenagers have the highest automobile accident rate of any age drivers. A parent's first concern after an accident is, understandably, their child's physical safety. However, a car accident can also affect a teen in ways that aren't so obvious at first.
“You were merging into the lane and they hit you,” says Dr. Mike Ziegler, M.D., Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, talking to his patient, Ashley, 16.
Ashley was in a car accident and the doctors are examining her for any physical injuries. They use x-rays to check for fractures and flush her eyes to get rid of any broken glass from the windshield. They also check for bruises on her arms and neck.
“You’ve probably got some tears in the muscles and soft tissues there. So, what you’re going to need to do is rest and use Motrin for the pain. You may be more sore tomorrow than you are today,” says Ziegler.
There is one more problem that may show up long after Ashley’s muscles have healed and the pain is gone.
“It’s very common for people after they’ve had a car accident to have some feelings of anxiety or stress related to the accident. Probably four out of five people who are involved in car accidents will have some sort of an acute stress reaction to that accident,” says Ziegler.
It’s often referred to as a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to one British study, as many as 25 percent of teens involved in car accidents -- even minor ones -- will suffer from PTSD.
“They may dream about it, they may think about it, or they may avoid things that are similar or associated with the trauma,” says Kirven Weekley, Ph.D., psychologist.
Eighteen-year-old Megan was involved in a car wreck several months ago. She wasn’t physically hurt, but for months she was afraid.
“I was always afraid [a car] was going to hit me every time I stopped. Then I had a bad dream that someone did hit me,” says Megan.
In Ashley’s case, the doctor says her parents need to monitor how well she’s healing -- both physically and emotionally.
“In the majority of patients, it’s going to get better. If symptoms persist or worsen, then you need to seek [medical] attention and potentially have some intervention made at that time,” says Ziegler.
Experts say that any experience that makes a person fear for his or her life -- even for a fleeting moment -- can lead to PTSD.
Tips for Parents
- The definition and effects of stress differ from one individual to another. An event that might cause an extreme amount of anxiety in one person may not affect another person at all. As parents, it is important to distinguish your child’s daily life hassles from actual stress. (National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, or the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to either loved ones or strangers. (National Institutes of Health, NIH)
- There are many treatments available for PTSD. Medication for depression or anxiety may be helpful – consult a health practitioner. Talking to a mental health professional and your friends and family about the event and your feelings can also help. PTSD can also lead to depression and substance abuse. These problems should be treated before or during PTSD treatment. (American Academy of Family Physicians, AAFP)
- Before you get behind the wheel, here are some tips to help you stay in control: (Nemours Foundation)
- Stay focused. There are a lot of things to think about when driving: road conditions, your speed, observing traffic laws and signals, following directions, being aware of the cars around you, checking your mirrors, etc. Stay focused only on driving.
- Distractions, like talking on the phone or eating, make a driver less able to see potential problems and react to them. It's not just teen drivers who are at fault: People who have been driving for years can get overconfident in their driving abilities and let their driving skills get sloppy. All drivers need to remind themselves to stay focused.
- Stay alert. Being alert (not sleepy or under the influence of alcohol or drugs) allows you to react quickly to potential problems – such as when the driver in the car ahead of you slams on the brakes at the last minute.
- Alcohol or drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs) affect a driver's reaction time and judgment. Driving while tired has the same effect and is one of the leading causes of crashes. So rest up before your road trip.
References
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
- National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Nemours Foundation
