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Panic attacks after a motor vehicle accident
Quick answer: Panic attacks after a car accident are common and understandable, because the body's alarm system becomes more easily triggered after a frightening event. They're distressing but not dangerous, and they're very treatable. Evidence-based psychological treatment can reduce how often and how intensely they happen, and may be available under the NSW CTP scheme.
A panic attack can be frightening: a sudden surge of intense fear with physical sensations like a pounding heart, tight chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling that something is terribly wrong. After a car accident, panic attacks are a common experience, and they often feel like they come out of nowhere. They don't mean you're weak or that something is seriously wrong with you. They're a sign of a nervous system that's been through something overwhelming.
Why they happen after an accident
A car accident is a sudden threat, and the brain responds by becoming more alert to danger. Afterwards, the body's alarm response can fire more readily, sometimes triggered by clear reminders like driving, traffic, or being a passenger, and sometimes seemingly without warning. The physical sensations of panic are the body's emergency system switching on when it doesn't need to. Understanding this is part of what makes panic more manageable: the sensations are intensely uncomfortable, but they are not harmful, and they do pass.
What panic attacks can feel like
- A racing or pounding heart
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of being unable to breathe
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling unreal
- Sweating, shaking, or trembling
- A strong sense of fear, dread, or that something bad is about to happen
Panic attacks often peak within minutes and then ease. Because they're so uncomfortable, many people start to avoid the situations they associate with them, which can shrink daily life over time, and is one reason treatment helps.
How treatment helps
Panic responds well to evidence-based psychological treatment. Rather than just managing attacks as they happen, treatment helps you understand the panic cycle, change the way the body's alarm response has become wired to accident reminders, and gradually rebuild confidence in the situations you've been avoiding, including driving and travel. Where the accident itself was traumatic, trauma-focused therapy and EMDR may also help. Where panic follows a motor vehicle accident, treatment may be available under the NSW CTP scheme, delivered by telehealth across NSW.
If you ever feel unsure whether what you're experiencing is a panic attack or a physical health problem, it's worth having it checked by your GP, since panic and some medical conditions can feel similar, and it's reasonable to rule things out.
Frequently asked questions
After a frightening event like a car accident, the body's alarm system can become more easily triggered. Panic attacks are a common response, often set off by reminders of the accident such as traffic, driving, or being a passenger. They are distressing but not dangerous, and they are treatable.
Yes. Panic attacks respond well to evidence-based psychological treatment, which helps people understand the panic response, reduce its frequency and intensity, and regain confidence. Treatment is tailored to the individual.
Where panic attacks follow a motor vehicle accident, psychological treatment may be available under the NSW CTP scheme, subject to approval. Your GP can help with the referral and approval process.
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This page is general information for people in NSW and is not personal or clinical advice. Eligibility and funding depend on your individual claim and insurer approval. Please speak with your treating doctor about your situation. If you are in crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000.