After being injured in a car accident, you might find yourself struggling to juggle many complex emotions. Your life was changed in an instant, and now you are dealing with stressors that could have been avoided. If this has left you feeling angry and isolated, know that you are not alone.
Dawson Skow, a Life Impact Analyst at Daniel Stark, acknowledges that anger is a natural and common reaction following a car accident or other traumatic injury.
Many of our clients experience anger for several reasons after a wreck. Managing these emotions can be hard.
Here are some ways that Mr. Skow has guided clients to understand their emotions, manage their anger, and begin the healing process.
Understanding Why You Feel Angry
Dealing with unresolved anger can be frustrating, especially when you don’t understand the source of the emotions.
Immediately following the accident, you may feel angry over the loss of your car and valuable time. However, Mr. Skow explains, “There’s a part that naturally feels like anger, but it may be tied to a different or deeper emotion.”
For example, you may be experiencing driving anxiety after an accident. Despite being a safe driver, you were still in an accident due to someone else’s carelessness. The loss of security or sense of control could trigger a natural fight response that presents itself as anger.
Once you recognize and come to terms with why you’re angry, you can begin to let go and start healing.
Repercussions of Unresolved Anger
Unmanaged anger can cause significant disruptions, leading to lasting personal and professional consequences.
How Anger Affects Your Personal Life
Anger often spills over into relationships and can cause tension in your home. When you’re consumed by anger, you may unintentionally direct it towards your loved ones.
Mr. Skow has seen this negative pattern become overwhelming for families, leading to a breakdown in relationships. He says, “Marriage, dating relationships, even with children – if I am an angry person, that will affect how I deal with them.”
Without proper care and treatment, marriages could suffer, and children may distance themselves to avoid constant agitation.
How Anger Affects Your Professional Life
In the workplace, the effects of unmanaged anger are equally damaging. Productivity levels may drop as you struggle to focus and get along with colleagues.
Your ability to perform your role may diminish, potentially leading to job loss. This could create financial instability and add to your stress and anger.
Mr. Skow advises that addressing and letting go of anger is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and a stable professional life. Recognizing the impact of unmanaged anger is the first step toward getting your life back on track.
How To Heal from the Anger
Anger can create a downward spiral in mental health. It is important to seek help so that you can heal and move forward. As Mr. Skow says, “My hope is not that we are coping for the rest of our lives, but that we are working towards a place of restoration, healing, and overcoming these issues and challenges.” There are several steps that you can take that will guide you to that place of healing.
Self-Care
Take time for yourself and reflect on the accident, your injuries, and your health. Mr. Skow highly recommends journaling. The process of journaling can look different for everyone, but it can be extremely therapeutic.
- Keep a daily journal to chart your thoughts and emotions.
- Follow prompts that promote reflection and healing.
- Write a letter to the person you believe hurt you. You do not have to send it – burn it, read it aloud, do whatever helps you release those emotions.
Lean on Family
Talk to someone you can trust. Lean on those that are closest to you like a good friend or a family member. Sometimes, talking it out with someone you know you can count on helps relieve the feeling of being alone.
Find a Mentor
Turn to someone you look up to that can give you guidance. This can be a pastor, a spiritual leader, a teacher, or a sponsor.
According to Mr. Skow, “This person can provide an extra layer of support or wisdom that they can give, though, often times, they are not trained to deal with mental illnesses.”
Seek Professional Help
Sometimes, it is necessary to seek help from a trained professional. Even if you are already following all other steps, a professional can give you guidance and clarity that others cannot.
The biggest barriers to healing are often pride and ego. Remember, this is an injury to the mind, and professional help is sometimes necessary.
How Can You Help Someone Suffering from Anger?
If someone you know is experiencing anger after a car accident, there are things you can do to help them heal.
- Lend a listening ear without judgment, advice, or opinions. Sometimes, people just need to vent.
- When offering suggestions, be gentle. Mr. Skow suggests asking questions like, “Have you thought about seeking therapy?” or “What do you think about that idea?” This allows them to have control over their healing, rather than you making demands.
- Be understanding and patient, keeping in mind that the person you care about is experiencing chronic pain and frustration.
If you are struggling with anger after a car accident, you don’t have to learn to cope or live with the anger. There’s help for you. Consider contacting a friend, mentor, or certified professional to help you get your life back on track.
