Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a psychological condition that can happen after someone experiences a particularly shocking event. Soldiers who see combat will often have PTSD, for example, and it has also been found in sexual assault survivors. When people go through difficult experiences, especially when they’re unexpected and extremely difficult, they may be left with PTSD.
The way that this manifests can be very different from one case to the next. Some people have flashbacks and nightmares. Others engage in avoidance behaviors, subconsciously trying to avoid similar events. Others suffer from depression or anxiety, and they may struggle to move past the traumatic event, both mentally and emotionally. Could something like this happen after a workplace accident?
Any traumatic event
The key thing to remember here is that researchers note that “any type of trauma” can lead to PTSD. There is not a list of qualifying events. It just has to be something that is traumatic and shocking, which leaves an imprint on the individual.
For example, maybe a worker was involved in a car accident while they were on the job. They were severely injured and one of their coworkers passed away. This person may not have been assaulted or been in combat, but this could be one of the most shocking and difficult events that they will ever go through. That could certainly lead to PTSD, requiring long-term treatment and possibly even disrupting the person’s employment if they can’t continue working in their career.
This helps to underscore how serious workplace injuries are. Those who have been hurt on the job must know exactly what legal steps to take.
