How to Cope with Trauma After an Accident

How to Cope with Trauma After an Accident

Dominique Apollon, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC

Dominque Apollon LCPC, NCC

Member Since 2018

Dominique Apollon, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC is a clinical mental health therapist working at NVision You, a Chicago-based private practice in the Loop. Dominique is a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and serves on their public education committee. Dominique also serves on the steering committee of the Social Isolation and Pets Consortium, initiated and supported by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Mars Petcare.

Dominique applies evidence-based treatments, including mindfulness-based techniques, for clients who experience anxiety, depression, OCD, and other stress-related disorders. She strives to help her clients discover what it means to live intuitively, embrace their vulnerabilities and learn to challenge and face uncertainty with more confidence.

Dominique and ADAA

"I became involved with ADAA in 2018 and have been an active member of the Public Education Committee since. I chose to become a member of ADAA because of how resourceful and current they are with mental health topics.

I enjoy being a part of an organization that is constantly striving to be the best mental health resource worldwide. ADAA is genuine and thoughtful in its approach to provide helpful tips, resources and evidence-based research. I have personally enjoyed being able to write blogs and assist in hosting and presenting webinars as an effort to educate others.  

Being a member of ADAA benefits my work because I am constantly able to access helpful information to help me learn and grow as a mental health professional. I am grateful to be able to share ADAA as a resource to clients, friends and family and feel proud to say I am a member and advocate. 

I am thrilled to share that my most recent accomplishment allows me to give back to the mental health community! I started Shrink Designs, which is a newly launched Chicago-based company that works with therapists, psychologists and all healthcare workers on all things design. Shrink Designs' mission is to assist in cultivating a space to help with work/life balance for healthcare professionals while giving back a percentage of their proceeds to different mental health organizations worldwide. 

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How to Cope with Trauma After an Accident

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2016 alone, there were an estimated 7,277,000 police reported traffic accidents in the United States. Most of the time, the initial concern has to do with any physical injuries for the people involved and getting help immediately. After the accident, when that initial shock has subsided, many fail to recognize how these accidents effect their emotional and mental health. 

When asked if trauma has ever been experienced, many don’t consider the car accident they were in 5 years ago to be traumatic. This is because people occasionally assume trauma has to be something as significant as a death of a loved one or a natural disaster, but trauma is anything that is “deeply distressing or disturbing,” and that looks different for each individual. It’s important to remember that you don’t even necessarily have to be the driver in the accident for it to be traumatic, you can be the passenger or a bystander for it to have its effects on you.

Following an accident, many people can experience emotional distress. It’s normal that during the healing process, you may begin to notice signs of increased stress such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, anguish, fearfulness, issues with sleep, reoccurring nightmares about the crash and more. These intense emotions can lead to avoidance. Some may avoid having to drive again by avoiding going to work, appointments, events, school, etc. due to fear of getting into another accident. When symptoms start getting in the way of day to day functioning it may be a sign to take action.

There a few suggested ways to work through and overcome these traumatic events. First, it’s important to increase self-care. When in distress or feeling anxious, it’s easy to neglect our basic needs such as getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, implementing exercise into your schedule and staying social. When that isn’t enough, it’s important to seek professional help. A mental health provider can help you process the accident, help to reduce the anxiety and stress while also getting you back into your routine and helping you stay engaged. With help from friends, family, a mental health professional and a little exposure, it’s possible to work up to being able to drive again.

Remember, it’s important to focus on the things in your control when trying to cope with moving forward. Practice using good driving behaviors such as always wearing your seatbelt and minimize as many distractions as possible such as not driving when you’re too tired, not using your phone and not eating or drinking while driving. In addition, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has additional resources such as educational materials, webinars, as well as a therapist finder to help you find a mental health professional in your area. You can also visit the National Center for PTSD to learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and find professionals who specialize in PTSD treatment.

Dominique Apollon, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC

Dominque Apollon LCPC, NCC

Member Since 2018

Dominique Apollon, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC is a clinical mental health therapist working at NVision You, a Chicago-based private practice in the Loop. Dominique is a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and serves on their public education committee. Dominique also serves on the steering committee of the Social Isolation and Pets Consortium, initiated and supported by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Mars Petcare.

Dominique applies evidence-based treatments, including mindfulness-based techniques, for clients who experience anxiety, depression, OCD, and other stress-related disorders. She strives to help her clients discover what it means to live intuitively, embrace their vulnerabilities and learn to challenge and face uncertainty with more confidence.

Dominique and ADAA

"I became involved with ADAA in 2018 and have been an active member of the Public Education Committee since. I chose to become a member of ADAA because of how resourceful and current they are with mental health topics.

I enjoy being a part of an organization that is constantly striving to be the best mental health resource worldwide. ADAA is genuine and thoughtful in its approach to provide helpful tips, resources and evidence-based research. I have personally enjoyed being able to write blogs and assist in hosting and presenting webinars as an effort to educate others.  

Being a member of ADAA benefits my work because I am constantly able to access helpful information to help me learn and grow as a mental health professional. I am grateful to be able to share ADAA as a resource to clients, friends and family and feel proud to say I am a member and advocate. 

I am thrilled to share that my most recent accomplishment allows me to give back to the mental health community! I started Shrink Designs, which is a newly launched Chicago-based company that works with therapists, psychologists and all healthcare workers on all things design. Shrink Designs' mission is to assist in cultivating a space to help with work/life balance for healthcare professionals while giving back a percentage of their proceeds to different mental health organizations worldwide. 

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