Road accidents are terrifying enough to leave the victims scarred for a lifetime. The impact is even more on young children because their bodies and minds are fragile. You should be extra concerned if a little one is on board when an accident occurs. Of course, their physical injuries are a reason to worry. You have to ensure the timely and appropriate medical treatment to prevent complications and speed up healing and recovery. 

But the mental trauma they suffer can be an even bigger problem because you may never understand what the child is going through. Emotional stress is inherent, even if the child is not physically hurt. As a parent, you must do your bit to recognize the signs of trauma and deal with the issue before it affects the mental health of your child. Here is all you need to know about helping your little one cope with the aftermath of a car accident. 

Emotional trauma of a car accident in children

If you have kids on board during a car crash, you must seek medical attention for them right after the mishap. Take the child to an emergency room to identify the signs of physical harm and get treatment at the earliest. However, you may overlook the fact that victims also suffer mentally and emotionally. The emotional trauma may be even more severe if the victim is a child. They hardly understand the reason for suffering just because of someone else’s negligence. 

Physical injuries worsen the mental suffering, and injuries or death of a loved one are the worst things they may face. Whatever the situation, emotional trauma can shatter the child completely. It may sneak up and harm the child in more than one way, so you must watch out for signs and seek professional help sooner than later. Failing to do it can affect the mental well-being of the child, and they may never recover from the trauma. 

Signs parents must be vigilant about 

You cannot establish mental trauma with definite symptoms because they differ from person to person. But you may watch out for subtle indications of emotional disturbance and get an expert diagnosis sooner than later. The good thing is that you can recover compensation for the cost of mental health treatment just like physical injuries. You only need to get a car accident lawyer with relevant experience and rich expertise to validate the claim by proving the suffering is caused due to the accident. But everything boils down to identifying the telltale signs of the emotional trauma of your child in the first place. These include-

• Sleep issues and nightmares
• Unexpected changes in appetite
• Behavioral issues
• Anxiety and depression
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Separation anxiety
• Physical problems like recurring headaches and stomach pain
• Bedwetting and thumb sucking in toddlers
• Issues at school such as indiscipline and a slip in grades

Visit your doctor if you notice these symptoms. They may start treatment or refer your child to a therapist, depending on the circumstances. Follow their instructions as they will have the best recommendations for starting a viable treatment. 

Parental support is crucial

Seeing your little one suffering is painful, but you must do your best to support them in making a comeback. Providing reassurance should be a priority because it makes the child feel safe physically and emotionally. Let the kid know that you will be there for comfort and support. You can research online or seek guidance from your pediatrician about the parental role in PTSD recovery for children. Victims often relive traumatic events internally, and it makes recovery harder.

You can help your child in various ways. Encourage them to talk freely about their feelings and acknowledge their fears instead of trying to change the topic. You can take them toward recovery by trying to create a normal routine again. Providing more love and care helps, but make sure you treat them just like their siblings. It is vital to take care of your own feelings and emotions while helping the child. Losing control and showing anger and frustration can confuse the child, so avoid such impulsive behavior. 

Helping your child recover from a car accident requires more than ensuring timely and proper medical treatment for them. It is also about ensuring emotional healing and resuming normalcy in life. The sooner you get life on track, the better it is for everyone in the family. Follow these tips to take your little one on the road to complete recovery after a mishap.