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Psychiatric Care After a Car Accident
For anxiety, PTSD, depression and sleep problems after a car accident. In person in Jacksonville or by telepsychiatry.
A car accident doesn’t only injure the body. In the days and weeks afterward, many people notice they are jumpy in traffic, replaying the crash, sleeping badly, or feeling low in a way that doesn’t lift. Those reactions are common, they are not a sign of weakness, and they can be treated.
East Coast Injury Clinic includes a psychiatrist on the same team that treats your physical injuries. That means your emotional recovery can be part of your care plan, with in-person visits in Jacksonville or telepsychiatry by secure video, coordinated with the chiropractic, physical therapy and medical car accident injury care you may already be receiving.
If you are in crisis right now, call 911, or call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day. Our clinic is not an emergency service.
Common emotional reactions after a crash
Everyone responds differently. These are some of the patterns our psychiatrist evaluates.
Anxiety and driving fear
It’s common to feel tense behind the wheel, to avoid the road where the crash happened, or to brace every time a car brakes near you. For some people this settles within a few weeks. For others it grows into constant worry, panic attacks, or avoiding driving altogether.
Acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Right after a frightening event, many people have intrusive memories, nightmares, or a sense of being on high alert. When symptoms like these last longer than a month and interfere with daily life, a clinician may evaluate for PTSD. Common features include:
- unwanted memories or flashbacks of the crash
- nightmares
- avoiding reminders, such as driving, the location, or talking about it
- feeling on guard, irritable or easily startled
- changes in mood or outlook since the accident
Depression
Ongoing pain, missed work, lost independence and a slower recovery than expected can all weigh on mood. Signs of depression may include persistent sadness, losing interest in things you usually enjoy, changes in appetite, low energy, trouble concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness.
Sleep problems
Sleep often suffers after a crash. Pain can make it hard to get comfortable, nightmares can wake you, and a mind on high alert may not settle at night. Poor sleep can, in turn, make pain, mood and concentration worse.
When a head injury is part of the picture
Irritability, anxiety, low mood and sleep changes can also follow a concussion, along with headaches after a crash. When both are possible, our psychiatrist works with the clinicians managing your concussion care so the symptoms are sorted out together.
When to ask for help
Consider a psychiatric evaluation if, since your accident:
- your symptoms have lasted more than a few weeks or are getting worse
- worry, memories or low mood are getting in the way of work, driving, sleep or relationships
- you’re avoiding things you need to do
- you are relying on alcohol or other substances to cope
- the people close to you have noticed a change
If you are having thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself, don’t wait for an appointment. Call or text 988, or call 911.
Meet our psychiatrist
Colleen Bell, MD, is a psychiatrist who sees patients recovering from car accidents at East Coast Injury Clinic. She earned her medical degree at the University at Buffalo and completed her psychiatry residency at UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh. She also teaches, precepting medical students in Jacksonville. You can read more about Dr. Bell and the rest of our care team.
What psychiatric care involves
- An evaluation. Your first visit is a conversation about the accident, your symptoms, your sleep, your health history, and what daily life looks like now.
- A diagnosis and a plan. If a condition such as an anxiety disorder, PTSD or depression is present, Dr. Bell will explain it and discuss options with you.
- Medication management, when appropriate. Some patients benefit from medication, and some don’t need it. If you do start one, follow-up visits track how it is working and adjust as needed.
- Referral for talk therapy. Psychotherapy is an important part of treatment for many of these conditions. When it fits your needs, you may be referred to a licensed therapist.
In-person visits and telepsychiatry
You can see Dr. Bell in person in Jacksonville or by telepsychiatry, a secure video visit. Florida law allows licensed physicians to provide care through telehealth, and many patients find video visits easier while they are still sore, can’t drive comfortably, or are juggling other appointments. You’ll need a private space, a phone or computer with a camera, and a reliable connection.
How psychiatry fits with your injury care
Physical and emotional recovery affect each other. Pain can worsen sleep and mood, and anxiety and poor sleep can make pain feel worse. Because Dr. Bell is part of the same clinic, your care team can share information with your permission:
- your chiropractic physician or physical therapist can flag stress or sleep problems they notice during treatment for injuries such as whiplash
- Dr. Bell can see what physical treatment you are receiving and how you are progressing
- if a concussion is involved, the providers managing it and your psychiatrist can coordinate
- scheduling can be lined up with your other visits
Psychiatric care is rarely a quick fix. Medications often take several weeks to show an effect, recovery from trauma is uneven, and we can’t promise how or when you will feel better. We also don’t provide emergency or hospital-level psychiatric care. If you need that, we will help you find it.
Paying for psychiatric care after an accident
After a car accident, Florida PIP may cover medically necessary care related to your crash, including psychiatric care, subject to PIP’s rules. Those rules include the 14-day start requirement and the limits tied to an Emergency Medical Condition finding, explained in our guide to how Florida PIP works. If you are working with a personal injury attorney, care may also be arranged under a Letter of Protection. We also accept a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies your coverage before your first visit and explains what is and is not covered, so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many people feel on edge, nervous while driving, or keep replaying the crash in the first days and weeks. For some, it fades on its own. If anxiety lasts more than a few weeks, keeps growing, or stops you from driving or working, an evaluation may help.
It varies. Some people feel close to normal within a few weeks. Others have symptoms for months, especially when pain, lost work or a head injury are involved. Symptoms that last longer than a month or interfere with daily life are a good reason to talk with a psychiatrist.
Common signs include unwanted memories or flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding driving or reminders of the crash, feeling on guard or easily startled, irritability, and a lasting change in mood. When these last more than a month and disrupt daily life, a clinician may evaluate for PTSD.
A crash can contribute to depression, especially when it brings ongoing pain, time away from work or a loss of independence. Signs include persistent sadness, loss of interest, sleep and appetite changes, low energy and hopelessness. Depression is treatable, and an evaluation is the first step.
Pain, nightmares and a nervous system that stays on high alert can all disrupt sleep after a crash. A concussion can affect sleep too. Poor sleep then tends to make pain and mood worse, so it is worth raising with your care team rather than waiting it out.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses mental health conditions and can prescribe and manage medication. A therapist, such as a licensed counselor or psychologist, provides talk therapy. Many people benefit from both, and Dr. Bell may refer you to a therapist as part of your plan.
Yes. Dr. Bell offers telepsychiatry by secure video as well as in-person visits in Jacksonville. You’ll need a private space and a device with a camera. Our front desk can tell you what is needed to set up a video visit.
Florida PIP may cover medically necessary care related to your crash, including psychiatric care, subject to the 14-day rule and the limits tied to an Emergency Medical Condition finding. Our front desk verifies your coverage before your first visit and explains what is covered.
If you are already a patient, your provider can refer you internally. If you are new to our clinic, call our front desk and they will explain what is needed for your first visit and your coverage.
For car accident patients, psychiatric care is usually covered through Florida PIP, subject to PIP’s rules, or through a personal injury attorney’s Letter of Protection. We also accept a limited number of private plans. Our front desk verifies coverage before your first visit and explains what is and is not covered. Call 904-513-3954 to start.
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. You can also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Our clinic phone line and messages are not monitored for emergencies.
Take the next step
Call (904) 513-3954, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, or contact us online, and let us know you’d like to see our psychiatrist after a car accident. Our clinics are at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256, near JTB and I-295 on the Southside, and 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218, north of I-295. Telepsychiatry visits by secure video are also available.
Crisis resources. If you are thinking about suicide or harming yourself or someone else, or you are in immediate danger, call 911. Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.
The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary. East Coast Injury Clinic’s services may not be appropriate for every condition or patient. Please consult a licensed healthcare professional to determine whether these services are right for your specific situation. Information provided about insurance, PIP, your auto policy, or workers’ compensation is general and is not legal advice. For legal questions related to a claim, consult a licensed attorney.
East Coast Injury Clinic | 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218 | 904-513-3954 | eastcoastinjury.com
East Coast Injury Clinic: Serving Jacksonville and Duval County
Two Jacksonville clinics, one injury team: Southside at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, and North Jacksonville at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302.