Perhaps you sustained serious harm in a recent collision. The injuries you incurred in the auto accident may have been physical, such as a broken rib or leg, and you may have experienced emotional harm as well.
Recovering from the effects of a car accident on an emotional level can take time. However, there are strategies you can rely on to cope and move forward in the days following collision.
Talk to someone
Talk to a close friend, a family member you trust or a counselor about the accident. It may help to talk about how the event happened, what you experienced and how you felt in the days immediately following the collision.
Stay active
If possible, participate in activities that do not exacerbate the injuries from the car accident. For example, you may consider going on a walk every morning or riding your bike in the evening. Consult with your doctor to determine how much physical activity you can do while still recovering from your injuries.
Get back to your routine
Although the car accident may limit what you can do for a time, it is important to ease into your old routine as soon as you can. This may be an uncomfortable or even a scary process at first, but it can help you move forward with the healing process.
Learn to drive defensively
Following the car accident, driving a car or riding in a vehicle as a passenger may be hard to do. Empower yourself to drive safely by educating yourself about defensive driving strategies. Some of these include:
- Saying focused and alert
- Preparing to compensate for other drivers’ mistakes
- Increasing following distance between your car and the one in front of you
- Driving at a safe speed for traffic and weather conditions
You should also avoid distractions such as using a cellphone or eating while behind the wheel.