westcountyfscs.org Injuries Can Be More Than Physical The Hidden Pain INJURIES ARE OFTEN MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL IN NATURE THE OTHER SIDE OF INJURY When people think of any injury, often what comes to mind is a physical manifestation of a wound, such as a bruise or a cut. However, there are some injuries that occur from an incident that don’t necessarily show on the outside. This isn’t just in reference to something like internal bleeding. It’s important to understand that emotional and mental injuries can be just as debilitating as physical ones. Emotional Trauma There are many ways to experience emotional trauma. It could be from losing a loved one or even a beloved pet. It could also be from witnessing a tragic incident or going through such an event yourself. Emotional trauma can manifest in different ways, including through eating disorders, addictions, avoiding relationships, and other harmful habits. Seeing a therapist may help some individuals to overcome emotionally traumatic events. Mental Trauma Mental or psychological trauma can also be the result of experiencing tragic events or surviving different types of abuse. These types of trauma can also manifest in myriad ways, including post-traumatic stress disorders or PTSD. Some psychological trauma can be set off by seemingly harmless events, especially if it is left untreated. This is why it’s important to seek help from medical and psychological professionals. Pain & Suffering Some types of emotional and mental pain and suffering are the direct result of someone else’s negligence. Just because you don’t manifest a physical injury from a negligent act doesn’t mean you came out unscathed. It also doesn’t mean you don’t deserve compensation for your injuries. Most professional injury attorneys can help victims recover damages not just from physical injuries, but also from trauma sustained emotionally and mentally. GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST One of the most important things anyone can do if they feel something is wrong is to seek out help. Injuries from accidents and negligent acts don’t always show up on the outside of the body and they may not appear right away. Listen to your body and pay attention to the actions and feelings of loved ones as well. The sooner you seek help for emotional or psychological trauma, the better. © COPYRIGHT 2016. WESTCOUNTYFSCS.ORG