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People who can recall a traumatic event may be at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than those with no recall of the event. Researchers who studied individuals involved in a serious car accident found that people who could remember the car accident were significantly more likely to develop PTSD-like symptoms than those who did not recall it.

This leads some experts to conclude that memory of a traumatic event is positively associated with the risk for development of PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often re-experience the past trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive recollections. The more they remember, the more vivid these re-experiences may be.

No one who has experienced a traumatic event ‘chooses’ whether or not to recall the details of an experience (it either happens or is prevented from happening as a result of head injury). Because of this, those who live through harrowing, life-sparing accidents and survive with their memories intact are especially at risk for PTSD.

Many people who develop PTSD get better after time, but about 1 out of 3 people with PTSD may continue to have some symptoms. Even if you continue to have symptoms, treatment can help you cope. Your symptoms don’t have to interfere with your everyday activities, work, and relationships.

If you think you may have PTSD, it’s vital that you see a mental health professional specifically trained to assess psychological problems for a formal PTSD evaluation.

For more information about your rights as a Jones Act maritime claimant—including recovering costs for medical or mental health treatments—contact the experienced offshore injury attorneys at Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P. for a FREE consultation today at 800-773-6770.