Surviving a car accident may bring renewed appreciation for life, but it may also bring the challenge of helping your children cope with trauma. While resilience appears to be an admirable trait of many young folks, significant trauma can leave its mark and will take time for your children to recover from.
Understanding the impact of psychological challenges can help you feel more confident in your ability to provide support and encouragement to your children.
Knowing what to expect
Your children will respond to the circumstances surrounding your car accident in different ways depending on the following:
- Age
- Personality
- Maturity
- Severity of injuries
- Availability of support
Your children may act fidgety or nervous or even completely refuse to comply when it is time to go places after the accident. They may show signs of distress, have trouble sleeping, become withdrawn and more emotional among other things.
Providing stability and reassurance
As a parent, watching your children suffer is one of the hardest things to witness. Your effort to continue providing stability can bring comfort and reassurance to your children. According to PsychCentral, your children need to feel heard. Listen to their concerns about the accident and its effects and think carefully about your answers.
You can utilize therapy to help you recognize signs of distress so you can intervene before things worsen. With professional help, you can guide your children through recovery and help them regain confidence and recognize that accidents happen. This period is also an ideal time to remind your children about the importance of wearing a seatbelt.