Home › Resources › Psychological symptoms after an accident
Psychological symptoms after a motor vehicle accident
Quick answer: After a motor vehicle accident, it's common to experience anxiety about driving, intrusive memories, disturbed sleep, low mood, irritability, and feeling on edge, with or without a serious physical injury. For many people these ease with time. When they persist or interfere with daily life, psychological treatment can help, and may be available under the NSW CTP scheme.
A car accident is a sudden, frightening event, and it's normal for it to affect more than the body. Many people are caught off guard by how much the experience stays with them afterwards, in their sleep, their mood, and how safe they feel on the road. Recognising these as common, understandable responses is often the first step toward feeling better.
Common psychological symptoms
Anxiety about driving or travelling, a racing heart in traffic, or a strong urge to avoid the road or the place the accident happened.
Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the accident, and distress when something reminds you of it.
Feeling jumpy, on edge, or easily startled, with the nervous system staying on guard after a threatening event.
Sadness, loss of interest, frustration, or a shorter temper, especially as recovery drags on.
Trouble falling or staying asleep, distressing dreams, and fatigue that slows physical recovery.
Difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, and mental fog, which can be worsened by poor sleep and stress.
Not everyone experiences all of these, and they can appear straight away or surface weeks later.
When to seek support
For many people, these symptoms ease over the weeks following an accident as life settles. It's worth reaching out for psychological support when symptoms persist, get stronger rather than weaker, or start to interfere with sleep, work, relationships, or your ability to travel and do everyday things. You don't need to wait until things are severe. Seeking help earlier often makes recovery more straightforward, and there's no threshold of "bad enough" you need to reach first.
How treatment helps
Psychological treatment after an accident is evidence-based and tailored to you. It can help you understand what's happening, work through the trauma of the accident, manage anxiety and sleep, and rebuild confidence, including confidence with driving. Where the accident was traumatic, trauma-focused therapy and EMDR may be part of the approach. Where these symptoms follow a motor vehicle accident, treatment may be available under the NSW CTP scheme, delivered by telehealth across NSW.
Frequently asked questions
Common symptoms include anxiety about driving or travelling, intrusive memories or flashbacks, disturbed sleep, low mood, irritability, heightened alertness, and difficulty concentrating. These can occur with or without significant physical injury.
For many people, symptoms ease over the weeks following an accident. When they persist, intensify, or start to interfere with daily life, work, or sleep, psychological treatment can help. There is no fixed timeline, and seeking support earlier can make recovery easier.
Where these symptoms follow a motor vehicle accident, psychological treatment may be available under the NSW CTP scheme, subject to approval. Your GP can assist with the referral and approval process.
Related
Make an enquiry
To discuss a referral or whether this service is appropriate, call or email directly. All enquiries are handled personally.
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.