Psychological Injury & PTSD Solicitors

The term PTSD is often associated with war veterans, however post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by a traumatic experience and can affect anyone who has been exposed to trauma. It is often caused by incidents that were not your fault, such as:

• Road traffic accidents – if you have been involved in a serious car accident you are at risk of suffering from PTSD
• Violent attacks, such as robbery or assault – the impact and after-effects of an attack are often difficult to explain, and PTSD may not develop until years after the event.
• Accidents at work – whether you were directly involved in a serious accident whilst at work, or you witnessed an incident in which someone else was badly injured whilst you were working.
• Medical emergencies, negligence, and accidents – psychological trauma often follows injury after treatment mistakes.
• Childbirth – many mothers feel traumatised after giving birth, especially if things have not gone to plan.

Witnesses to an event, such as a crime, may also experience symptoms. Even if you have not been physically harmed, if you felt an overwhelming sense of danger, helplessness, and lack of control, you could later experience PTSD from the experience.

It is estimated that around 1 in 3 people who experience something traumatic will develop PTSD – sometimes months or years after the incident. If you find yourself suffering from PTSD following an accident that was not your fault, you should seek legal advice.

Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause post-traumatic stress disorder and therefore any treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and how soon they occur after the traumatic event.

Whether it is flashbacks, nightmares, feeling very anxious or difficulty sleeping, PTSD can be successfully treated, even when it develops many years after a traumatic event. The main treatments for PTSD include:

• Medication – antidepressants such as paroxetine or mirtazapine are often prescribed to help treat symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – CBT is a talking therapy that can help manage problems by changing the way you think and behave and is often used to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD.
• Exposure therapy – this is a psychological treatment that was developed to help people confront their fears, with a goal of creating a safe environment in which a person can reduce anxiety, decrease avoidance of dreaded situations, and improve their quality of life.

Some people with PTSD have found other treatments helpful in managing their condition, such as group therapy, arts therapies, or dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).

Most treatment can be accessed via your GP and other NHS psychological services. In addition, there are numerous specialist organisations, trauma services and local charities that offer therapy. Some people choose to find a private therapist to help them with their PTSD and personal injury compensation can often help to fund this.