The perils of riding a motorcycle are well-documented. While these vehicles offer a swift form of transportation, they can also expose riders to a range of hazards that can leave them with serious injuries.
Aside from the dangers to a rider’s physical health, a motorcycle accident can impact their mental health, often leaving them with severe and long-lasting challenges that can significantly reduce their quality of life.
Here are some of the mental health repercussions that can follow a motorcycle accident, and some guidance to help riders get back on their feet again.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be a terrifying experience, one that can linger in the minds of riders for months or years to come. While physical injuries may heal with time, the psychological effects of an accident can leave riders with crippling fear and anxiety, and often cause them to relive the experience through flashbacks or nightmares.
As a result, many riders may suffer from PTSD following a motorcycle accident and require specialist help to feel safe again. Below are some symptoms of PTSD that riders may experience in the aftermath of an accident:
- emotional or social withdrawal;
- impaired memory or concentration;
- insomnia or other sleep issues;
- extreme distress at reminders of the accident;
- emotional outbursts;
- hypervigilance.
Depression
An injured person can also display symptoms of depression following their accident. This condition can often stem from their injuries, which may be severe and long-lasting, leaving them permanently disabled or in great pain and unable to perform many of the activities they once enjoyed.
A rider’s traumatic brain injury (TBI) can also be a cause of depression. This type of injury is, unfortunately, common following a motorcycle accident, and studies have confirmed a link between TBI and depression.
This may be the result of chemical imbalances in the brain due to injury, causing changes in mood and contributing to depressive symptoms. While the signs of depression can vary, some common symptoms include:
- fatigue or low energy;
- insomnia or changes in sleeping patterns;
- feelings of low self-worth or hopelessness;
- suicidal thoughts;
- loss of appetite;
- disinterest in hobbies and activities previously enjoyed.
Coping strategies
Individuals suffering from mental health challenges following a motorcycle accident can benefit from seeking professional help from a trained therapist or counsellor. These mental health experts can provide specialist treatment and support for individuals by helping them address and process their feelings, fears, and trauma following their experience.
This may include proven techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), or dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT).
With the right guidance and support, those who have been in motorcycle accidents can begin their road to recovery and regain their confidence, independence, and enthusiasm for life.
Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X (Twitter) at @dennisr_howell.