23Aug/113
How to deal with the stress of a car accident?
I recently totaled my car on a back road and walked away with little more than whiplash. The first night I slept fine, but tonight is the second night and it is almost 4 in the morning and I cannot even get a hint of sleep. I have no way of getting a sleep aid and I don't prefer to take them. I'm only 18 years old so alcohol is not available either. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can get some sleep? Thanks!
August 23rd, 2011 - 22:12
It does sound like you are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anxiety disorders are a lot more common than most of us realize! Unfortunately they are also one of the most misunderstood mental health problems out there.
The first step to fixing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or any other anxiety disorder, is to understand it. PTSD is when the brain mistakenly identifies a memory as a danger.
By understanding the structure of the brain, one can easily understand how the mistake of association could be made.
The section of your brain that recognizes stimuli as dangerous is called the amygdala. Once a potential danger is presented, the amygdala sends messages to activate a response from the nervous system. This can lead to a panic attack, or extended insomnia.
One of the other functions the amygdala is control of emotional memories. It is easy to see how the mistaken association could be made between a traumatic event and the trigger of the nervous system. The two are controlled by the same area of the brain!
It is important to remember that essentially, an anxiety disorder is an error of the mind. Anxiety is not.
The first step to fixing an anxiety problem is to understand what’s going on in your brain.
I’ve recently written a page on the psychology of anxiety, and one on how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder works and how to deal with it.
Feel free to check it out for more information.
It will help you figure out whether you have an anxiety disorder. Simply understanding what’s happening in your head can make it seem a whole lot less scary and confusing.
Hopefully you will be comfortable with seeking treatment after wards, and better able to explain your problem to a doctor.
I hope everything gets better for you soon!
August 23rd, 2011 - 22:12
When I cant sleep, I listen to soothing sounds(ocean, nightlife) or music, any genre. I’ve been in a wreck before except this one about took my life and til this day, I still have problems sleeping, only because I have nightmares.
August 23rd, 2011 - 22:12
You will be alright as the time goes.Giving some suggestions below.
Turning Stress into Success
1. The starting point to turn stress into success is to lessen your load. Eighty percent of the cure can come out of writing down all your cares and responsibilities in order of priority, then eliminating the least important.
2. Remember that Superman and woman exist only in comics and films. Everybody has a breaking point, so recognize yours and call a halt before you reach your limit.
3. With stress comes pent-up feelings. Get them "off your chest" by sharing them with a trusted friend or counsellor. This of itself can bring immediate relief and helps you to think and plan more objectively.
4. Stop fighting situations that can’t be changed. As one father told his impatient teenager, "If you would only realize and accept the fact that life is a struggle, things would be so much easier for you." Learning to live with and get on top of struggles is what helps us grow and mature.
5. Watch your diet and eating habits. When under stress we tend to overeat—especially junk food which increases stress. A balanced diet of proteins, vitamins, and fiber while also eliminating white sugar, caffeine, too much fat, alcohol and nicotine is essential for lowering stress and its effects.
6. Be sure to get plenty of physical exercise. This keeps you healthier and helps burn up excess adrenaline caused by stress and its accompanying anxiety.
7. The ultimate answer to turning stress into success is to learn to trust God through Jesus Christ and live in harmony with his will for your daily life. God’s peace comes through accepting and trusting in Jesus Christ.
"Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." Phili.4:6-7
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please ‘give me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference.’ Help me to trust my life to you in every situation in which I find myself. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name."Visit: http://www.spintruth.com