Navigating PTSD Recovery and Compensation

When you think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you probably think of veterans. But did you know that PTSD can be triggered by a car accident, physical assault, workplace injury, natural disaster or any other type of traumatic event?

Often obscured by depression, comorbidities, substance abuse or just a lack of understanding, PTSD, which is estimated to affect about 6% of Americans, can be hard to identify and diagnose. 

Read on to learn more about PTSD treatment and recovery and explore options for workers’ compensation and personal injury claims related to PTSD.

WHAT IS PTSD?

PTSD is a psychiatric condition that occurs after a traumatic event occurs in a person’s life. About 50% of people will experience a trauma that could potentially lead to PTSD at some point during their lives. 

Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. 

>> WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH 

Many people who have been through a terrifying or traumatic experience have issues adjusting initially. But if given time and the right support, most people can resume their normal lives without long-term symptoms. But if symptoms persist and someone struggles to cope with their experience, they may have PTSD. 

Different people will exhibit different symptoms and benefit from different treatment methods. Make sure to seek help from a professional, and never try to treat yourself without professional advice. Common treatment methods include:  

• Structured therapies teach patients to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with positive ones, helps them face their fears, and can reduce frequency and intensity of nightmares. 

• Medications such as SSRI and SNRI antidepressants 

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PTSD?

In the United States, about 8 million people suffer from PTSD. But that doesn’t mean everyone has their facts straight. There are several aspects to the condition that aren’t properly understood. 

PTSD DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN TO VETERANS

There are lots of different events that can lead to PTSD, but military service members often are associated with the condition because being put in a life-threatening situation is one of the more common causes. 

However, PTSD absolutely can occur to people that are not military service members or veterans. Anyone who has experienced or witnessed violence or abuse, natural disasters, catastrophic injuries, or a life-threatening situation can develop PTSD. 

Car accidents are just one example of a traumatic event that could result in PTSD. Psychologically reimagining the car accident, the sufferer may refuse to drive a car and begin to startle easily. 

Workplace environments caused by poor work organization and design, lack of support from colleagues and poor management can lead to high stress levels, and can intensify a situation. 

PTSD DOESN’T USUALLY LEAD TO VIOLENT OUTBURSTS

Violence is not a common symptom of PTSD, even though it is one of the more well-known misconceptions about the condition. 

“One of the biggest myths out there is that a person with PTSD is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode,” says Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, MD, the chair of psychiatry at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. “There is this sense that all people who have PTSD are unstable. Now, it is true that people with PTSD are likely to be irritable, but PTSD has a wide range of symptoms and this idea that everyone who has PTSD is going to explode is a mischaracterization.” 

It’s much more common for a person who is suffering from PTSD to avoid contact with other people than to lash out at them.  

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PTSD IN THE WORKPLACE?

PTSD is a serious mental illness and can manifest in the workplace as decreased productivity, poor performance, and more frequent absences. But having a supportive work environment can make all the difference.

Accommodations for PTSD will look different for every individual; some employees may need more help than others. Considerations like an inclusive office culture, flexible schedules, and scheduled rest breaks can go a long way in creating a supportive environment for employees with PTSD or other conditions. Furthermore, proactively providing these accommodations creates an environment in which employees feel safe and empowered to ask for additional support if and when they need it.

Here are a few suggestions for how to make sure your office is a safe space for people with PTSD:

In addition to managing symptoms at work, people who work in certain professions also have a greater risk of developing PTSD due to intense or stressful work environments. Some examples include first responders, medical professionals, and military personnel.

CAN YOU GET WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR PTSD?

There are lots of workplace accidents that can lead to PTSD, but does that mean that it’s worker’s comp eligible? 

Life-threatening injuries, the death of a coworker, violence or bullying can all happen at work, all of which can lead to PTSD. States have different laws for what qualifies as eligible for worker’s comp. 

In Massachusetts an employee is entitled to workers’ compensation if work events were a primary factor causing their PTSD. 

In New Hampshire, an element of physical manifestation is needed for workers’ comp claims. New Hampshire also has specific listed exceptions for mental injuries including: if it is caused by disciplinary action, work evaluation, job transfer, layoff, demotion, termination, or any similar action, taken in good faith by an employer. 

New Hampshire has another exception. Emergency response and public safety workers with PTSD do not need physical symptoms to be eligible. 

In Rhode Island, PTSD qualifies if caused or accompanied by identifiable physical trauma. Or if caused by emotional stress resulting from a situation of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension which all employees encounter daily without serious mental injury.  

CAN YOU FILE A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT OVER PTSD?

Personal injuries are caused by the negligence, recklessness, or carelessness of another.  

There isn’t one written rule determining how a traumatic event occurs. If someone experienced a traumatic event because of another person’s purposeful actions or negligence and that leads to PTSD, then a personal injury lawsuit could be warranted.  

KECHES LAW GROUP CAN HELP

Keches Law Group’s skilled and experienced workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyers are prepared to assist you. If you believe you have a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury case related to PTSD, please contact us. Our team is here to help.