5 Helpful Tips for Feeling Better After a Car Accident

Car accidents are scary. Even minor fender benders can rattle your nerves for months, and cause you stress every time you get behind the wheel. If you get hurt, it can take even longer to recover—from both the physical and emotional trauma. Learn how to feel better after a car accident, with these helpful tips from Direct Auto Insurance.
Feel better after a car accident by…
1. Focusing on taking care of yourself.
It’s OK to take a little time out of your day for some self-care. If you’re sore, shaken up, or injured in any way, don’t be afraid to stay home, camp out on the sofa, and binge-watch a season of your favorite television show with a hearty helping of your favorite take-out. (Or one of these cheap and healthy fast food snacks!)
Even more simple, try to get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and exercise (if you can). Sticking to a routine can help resolve lingering anxiety and make you feel better after a scary car accident. Nutritious foods, adequate sleep, and good exercise can also promote faster healing if you’ve experienced injuries in the accident. Just make sure you consult your doctor before hopping back into the gym!
2. Talking about how you’re feeling.
One of the most effective ways to conquer the anxiety, guilt, anger, pain, or sadness you may feel after a car accident is by talking about those feelings with people you trust. If other people were involved in the crash, speaking with them about the experience can make you feel less alone or weighed down by negative emotions. If you feel comfortable, you might even consider seeking help from a professional therapist.
Verbalizing your concerns and anxieties to another person can help you understand and, eventually, get rid of what is burdening you. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed by the variety of emotions you feel after a frightening crash—these emotions are much more normal than you might expect.
3. Seeing your doctor ASAP about physical injuries.
It’s not unusual to feel sore for a few days or even a few weeks after a car accident. Occasionally, symptoms don’t appear until days after the crash and can persist for months. If you’ve noticed unrelenting headaches, back pain, dizziness, numbness, neck pain, or anything else affecting your daily life, don’t waste time making an appointment with your doctor.
Mention you were recently in a car accident so you can snag the earliest available appointment. The sooner you see a medical professional, the sooner you can start to feel better. Your medical records will be important for handling your insurance claim, too, so hold on to them.
4. Practicing relaxation techniques.
Deep breathing can help relax your mind and body, and can be particularly helpful when you begin driving again after an accident. Other relaxation techniques, like meditation, yoga, and prayer, can help you work through the lingering nerves and fear you may have. Different things work for different people, so find something that helps you feel calm and go from there.
5. Filing your insurance claim.
One of the best ways to feel better—in all sorts of situations—is to start working toward a practical solution. After a car accident, it’s not uncommon to feel a bit helpless and frustrated, especially if you’re dealing with a car that needs repairs.
By filing your insurance claim as soon as possible, you can get the ball rolling and feel more in control of the post-accident situation. Direct Auto Insurance offers step-by-step instructions for filing your claim and checking on its status so that you can get back to normal life sooner.
A car accident doesn’t have to define your life or your car insurance rates. Call, click, or come in today if you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident or were dropped by your insurance company. Direct Auto is here to help you feel better about your future on the road!