Family and friends of accident victims need to know about trauma counseling

I was deeply saddened yesterday when I read the story of the freak accident where Jan-Hendrik van der Merwe, who is former Springbok captain Corné Krige’s brother-in-law, accidentally drove over his children. It was reported earlier today that both parents are receiving trauma counselling/ couseling.

It is of the utmost importance that we attend to victims and survivors of road crashes. On the Arrive Alive website we have made available information on trauma counselling and we would like to quote from this:

• Symptoms of emotional trauma experiences by accident victims

It is important to note that developing symptoms is never a sign of weakness. People who go through traumatic experiences often have certain symptoms and problems afterward. How severe these symptoms are depends on the person, the type of trauma involved, and the emotional support they receive from others. Reactions to and symptoms of trauma can be wide and varied, and differ in severity from person to person.

A traumatized individual may experience one or several of them. Sometimes these responses can be delayed, for months or even years after the event. Often people do not initially associate their symptoms with the precipitating trauma.

Common personal and behavioural effects of emotional trauma:

• substance abuse
• compulsive behavior patterns
• self-destructive and impulsive behavior
• uncontrollable reactive thoughts
• inability to make healthy professional or lifestyle choices
• dissociative symptoms (“splitting off” parts of the self)
• feelings of ineffectiveness, shame, despair, hopelessness
• feeling permanently damaged
• a loss of previously sustained beliefs

Common effects of emotional trauma on interpersonal relationships:

• inability to maintain close relationships or choose appropriate friends and mates
• sexual problems
• hostility
• arguments with family members, employers or co-workers
• social withdrawal
• feeling constantly threatened

We would like to urge family and friends of accident victims to visit the Arrive Alive website for more information on:

• Trauma Counselling and Road Safety