Depression

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Depression

Depression and other emotional injuries are commonly experienced by people who are the victims of personal injury. Emotional injuries like depression, post traumatic stress disorder, fear, anger, and withdrawal are normal reactions to a traumatic and extreme event that involves real or threatened injury. These emotional reactions can affect the person who is injured in an accident or other incident or in people who witness the traumatizing accident first hand.

Depression is common in people who have suffered a personal injury caused by another’s intentional wrongdoing or negligence. A personal injury can result from a motor vehicle accident, a work related accident, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, product defects, and more. Depression after a personal injury can be a natural emotional response to thoughts of the event itself, the physical injuries suffered, disfigurement, functional impairments that interfere with normal daily activities, and disability.

Depression is a condition that causes both emotional and physical problems. Personal injury victims who suffer depression may experience any of the following: loss of enjoyment in once-pleasurable activities and hobbies; a persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood; decreased energy; sleep changes; change in appetite; thoughts of death or suicide; and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness, and more. People who suffer depression after a traumatic injury commonly suffer from another psychological condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Though all personal injury victims are at risk for developing depression and other emotional injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) victims experience depression and other emotional difficulties at a high rate. Approximately six percent of the general population suffers depression, while nearly sixty percent of TBI and SCI patients suffer depression, anxiety, and other emotional and psychosocial injuries. Depression in these personal injury victims is further compounded by poorer rehabilitation outcomes, according to research.

Luckily, there are ways to treat a personal injury victim who suffers from depression. Support from loved ones is a key element in facilitating the treatment and recovery of a personal injury victim with depression. There are professional mental health professionals who have experience helping people with depression who have suffered certain personal injuries, like TBI. These caring professionals are aware of the unique set of challenges and circumstances that a TBI victim faces and can cater their depression treatment to address these issues.

If you or a loved one is suffering depression and other emotional injuries after a traumatic personal injury, it can be extremely helpful to seek professional medical and psychological support. If your personal injury is the result of another party’s wrongdoing or negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression after a personal injury, please contact us to speak with a caring and competent attorney who can protect your legal interests.

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