Developed a fear of accidents after a pedestrian accident? Read this article
St. Petersburg is among the most pedestrian-friendly cities in Florida. Their neighborhoods, designed with pedestrians in mind, are meant for people to get around easily without having to rely on a vehicle. But just like all other things, a few rotten apples are all it takes to ruin the experience.
Pedestrians who have been hurt in accidents may acquire a particular phobia of the circumstances in which they were hurt or the locations, such as sidewalks beside busy streets or intersections. This can wreak havoc in their lives.
Injured pedestrians shouldn’t give up without a fight. They should seek the expertise of experienced St. Petersburg pedestrian accident lawyers to ensure they get just compensation for their injuries.
When we refer to pedestrian accidents, in most cases, we only focus on physical injuries but overlook the mental aspects. In this article, we will discuss one of the most serious emotional effects of a pedestrian accident.
Dystychiphobia: What does it mean
Accident phobia is known as dystychiphobia. When you have this particular phobia, you could experience anxiety whenever you see or think about a location where you might have had an accident.
Many who suffer from this anxiety have experienced catastrophic accidents in the past. A person who suffers from dystychiphobia fears getting into or being in an accident. Perhaps they fear accidents that can happen at home, at the workplace, school, in public places, or in vehicles.
What causes this dystychiphobia
The most probable causes of dystychiphobia are listed below:
- Past traumatic experiences: Individuals who have experienced a severe injury may grow dystychiphobic. If a friend or family member is hurt in an accident or passes away, you could also be at risk. In these cases, dystychiphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be related.
- Genes: If your parents had anxiety or a phobic disorder, you are more likely to develop dystychiphobia. You can be more anxious than others if you have a gene mutation.
- Modeling: Interacting with or observing a dystychiphobic individual can induce the same behavior in you as well.
- Learned responses: A parent or relative who has an influence over you and makes you fear accidents may lead to dystychiphobia.
How to manage negative emotions after an accident
Anxiety and fear are frequent and natural reactions to a traumatic experience, even if you don’t acquire a phobia or PTSD as a result of the injury. These feelings may start to come to the surface once the first shock of the tragedy wears off.
You may feel that your own brain is alien to you. However, there are a few steps that you could follow to tone down the overwhelming emotions:
- Speak with others: Tell your loved ones, friends, medical professionals, and any other significant person about the accident. Sharing the story can make you feel less isolated and aid in the mental processing of what transpired.
- Maintain a journal: If the thoughts surrounding the accident continuously paralyze your everyday life, maintain a journal and express the feelings that arise inside you. Writing can aid in processing your emotions.
- Emphasis on gratitude: Finding the silver lining in a bad situation does not make it any less horrible. That can, however, assist your brain in ending a negative thought pattern that might cause depression or worsen your quality of life. Remind yourself that you made it through, that your recovery is going well, or that your friends and family have been there for you.
- Take it slow: Consider taking one step at a time when you feel you are ready to get back on the road again. Go for shorter walks initially. Select roads with minimal traffic and slowly build confidence to notch it up further.
Additionally, healthcare professionals can help you overcome the fear of accidents. Cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy can help you handle dystychiphobia triggers.
The article Developed a fear of accidents after a pedestrian accident? Read this article first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.