Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Paige LeJeune
Some degree of emotional distress is natural and expected after being injured in a serious accident. However, there are certain times in which the anger, sadness, or anxiety worsens, and goes beyond what’s considered healthy or normal.
If your husband was recently injured in a maritime accident, as his wife, it’s important you stay sensitive to what your husband experiences. If you notice any signs that his mental or emotional condition is worsening or he’s experiencing psychological trauma, get him professional help to address the situation.
Common Mental Disorders after Serious Accidents
There are three common disorders that maritime workers may experience after a serious injury:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – PTSD is not uncommon; in fact, approximately 5.2 million adults have PTSD during any given year, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Flashbacks, anger, depression, acting numb, and attempting to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs are some of the many symptoms. Without treatment, PTSD can have a long and damaging effect on your husband’s life.
- Major depressive disorder – There are numerous types of mood disorders that may develop after a maritime accident, one of which is major depressive disorder (MDD). Fatigue, depression, and a marked decrease in enjoyment in life are some of the symptoms. MDD can lead to suicidal tendencies, so if you’ll want to seek professional help immediately if you suspect your husband is becoming abnormally depressed.
- Emotional and psychological trauma – Emotional and psychological trauma can occur with any type of traumatic experience, including serious maritime accidents. It can have emotional symptoms (e.g., withdrawal, fear, guilt, mood swings), as well as physical (e.g., rapid heartbeat, insomnia, aches and pains.)
Things You Can Do if Your Husband is Struggling
The non-profit organization HelpGuide.org provides a list of recommendations on how to help loved ones who are experiencing psychological trauma. “Your support can be a crucial factor in their recovery,” HelpGuide.org explains.
Some recommendations on how to support your husband include:
- being patient and non-judgmental of the way he’s handling his accident;
- help him get back into a routine (he might not be able to go back to work, but helping him develop a new routine at home might help);
- be available to talk when he wants or be a sounding board when he needs one;
- by the same token, don’t force him to talk about his injury or how he is feeling if he doesn’t want to (he will talk when he is ready);
- exercise with him (within the doctor’s guidelines) and help him stick to a healthy diet; and
- help him pursue his hobbies and go do fun stuff with him to help keep his mind in a positive place.
Pursing Compensation for Your Husband’s Emotional Trauma
It’s important to know that in certain situations, there might be a possibility that your husband can recover compensation for his emotional trauma after a maritime accident.
Consult a maritime attorney to explore legal options and see what types of restitution may be available. Feel free to contact a maritime lawyer at The Young Firm for a free, no-obligation case evaluation at 866-715-3664 today.
