Exploring the Psychological Effects of Dog Bites

Dog bites can have life-altering consequences on a person’s physical appearance and health. However, dog bites are traumatizing and can leave a lasting psychological impact on victims. For some victims, the emotional impact lasts longer than the physical ones. Victims can often be left with fear, anxiety, emotional distress, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, many victims do not recognize that psychological trauma is an injury and that they can get help. You may also be eligible for compensation through a dog bite claim. Review your options with The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer. 

Post-Traumatic Stress: Psychological Trauma and Dog Bite Victims

The definition of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a mental condition that is triggered by a traumatic or terrifying event. Many people correlate PTSD with service members who have gone to war, but trauma impacts people differently. Being attacked by a dog is a terrifying experience that can cause mental health conditions like PTSD. 

Symptoms 

Some fear and anxiety following a dog attack are common, but when these feelings do not subside, it can be a sign that something else is happening. You might need professional assistance when symptoms do not lessen over time, are long-term, or interfere with daily life. There are four categories of PTSD symptoms. You may experience some or all, and it can fluctuate over time. 

Intrusive thoughts 

Memories of the dog bite can come up occasionally. When these memories become intrusive, they can be symptoms of PTSD. Examples that can help determine if you should seek support include:

• Having nightmares about the dog bite 
• Flashbacks of the dog attack over and over 
• Severe physical or emotional reaction to places, people, or objects that remind you of the attack 

Mood and thought process 

Your mood and thought processes can also be altered when a dog attacks you. Some symptoms that might arise include:

• Hopelessness about the future
• Negative outlook about the world and yourself
• Memory problems 
• Challenges maintaining or creating close relationships
• Feeling emotionally numb 
• The feeling of detachment from family, friends, and others close to you 
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions like happiness 

Avoidance 

Sometimes victims will begin to avoid thinking about the attack by changing their habits. If you notice you are intentionally steering clear of people, places, or activities that make you think of dogs or the dog attack, you may need mental health counseling. Additionally, refusing to talk about the dog attack or changing the topic when it comes up is another example of avoidance. 

Emotional and physical reactions 

PTSD has a physical component, and you may experience changes in how you react to environmental stimuli. Some symptoms might include:

• Difficulty concentrating 
• Being easily startled or frightened 
• Constantly feeling on guard or in protective mode 
• Sleep disturbances 
• Self-destructive behaviors like speeding to drinking too much  
• Increase in anger, aggression, or irritability 

Psychotherapy 

It is advised to seek treatment if any previously mentioned symptoms last over a month, are severe, or you feel you cannot get your life back on track. PTSD can be triggered at any point and has a funny way of impacting victims when they least expect it. You should get help sooner rather than later. Three psychotherapy methods can help with treating PTSD from dog bites, including:

• Exposure therapy exposes the person to the memories of the attack that scare them. Through behavioral therapy, sufferers will learn coping mechanisms. Exposure therapy is very helpful with flashbacks and nightmares. 
• Cognitive therapy: talk therapy helps sufferers identify thought patterns that can affect them due to their PTSD. 
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This psychotherapy combines exposure therapy and guided eye movements. It can help you change your reaction to memories of the incident. 

Depending on the severity of your PTSD, one or a combination of these can be used to help you manage your PTSD. 

Children and PTSD 

Adults can have PTSD and can often find support for their conditions. Identifying PTSD and other mental health conditions in children can sometimes be more challenging. They might not be able to express what they are going through emotionally. Children have a higher propensity for suffering long-term psychological trauma after a dog attack. 

Children may have symptoms that begin showing immediately or over time after seeing or experiencing a dog attack. Some children feel ashamed or will try to hide their symptoms to cope with the dog attack. You should look for symptoms in children like social withdrawal, severe sleep disturbances, and behavioral issues. These symptoms can interfere with their relationships and education. Other signs you can look for in your child include the following:

• Lower interest in social interactions 
• New fears or anxieties 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Dog phobia 
• Loss of interest in once enjoyable activities 
• Resistance in talking about the attack 

If you witness these symptoms after a dog attack or other traumatic experience, get your child a professional evaluation. You should also discuss how treatment will impact your legal claim with The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer. 

Fear and Anxiety: Developing Fear of Dogs and Outdoor Spaces

It is common for dog bite victims to avoid dogs and outdoor spaces while physically recovering. Fear is a motivator for staying away from dogs. However, when this becomes a permanent lifestyle change, that is a sign that something deeper is happening. A New Jersey dog bite attorney can help you find the resources to address the fear and anxiety you develop after a dog attack. 

Cynophobia 

Sometimes, people will develop anxiety disorders after being attacked by a dog. One disorder is cynophobia which is an overwhelming fear of dogs. The onset of this condition can lead to people taking extreme precautions to avoid dogs or places where a dog might be. They can sometimes experience anxiety or panic attacks when seeing a dog in person, in a movie, etc. 

Treating cynophobia 

When a person develops cynophobia, a typical treatment plan is to use medication in tandem with therapy. Other treatment options that might be recommended include:

• Exposure therapy 
• Hypnotherapy 
• Cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Mindfulness exercises 
• Psychotherapy 
• Hypnotherapy 

Emotional Distress: Coping with the Emotional Impact of a Dog Bite

Emotional distress can be recovered in a dog bite lawsuit under noneconomic damages. These damages involve emotional pain and suffering, such as emotional distress. Coping with the emotional toll of these attacks can be difficult. Coping with these attacks may include seeking professional help. If emotional distress is left untreated, it can lead to severe struggles down the line. You may also be eligible to obtain compensation for your emotional trauma. 

Documenting emotional distress 

While coping with the emotional impact of the dog bite, it might be helpful to write down what you are experiencing. Not only will writing your experiences down help you emotionally it can also help document your symptoms for your legal claim too. The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer can help document your noneconomic damages and estimate their financial worth using special formulas.

While you are establishing coping mechanisms that work, these treatments can be costly. Emotional distress can wreak havoc on your life and cause you to lose relationships and your job. Without documentation, the issuance company will not believe you are in emotional turmoil from a dog attack. 

You can document your emotional distress in several ways. When you seek mental health treatment, they will take copious records of your mental state, treatment, and improvement. Professional help is the most significant step in documenting your emotional injuries. Another step you can take is to start a journal. Every day write down your symptoms and their impact on your daily activities.  

Coping mechanism 

Professional help can be an invaluable asset in your recovery. You can learn valuable lessons and coping skills that help you in everyday life. Professional support can help in several ways:

• Building resilience 
• Creating strategies to manage stressors
• Understand your emotional needs
• Recognize triggers and how to handle then 
• Improve problem-solving 
• Learn new communication styles 

Counseling and therapy are safe spaces to explore your emotions and find coping methods that work for you. 

Long-Term Effects: Potential Psychological Consequences and Recovery

The emotional toll that victims suffer will vary depending on factors like the victim’s age, the severity of the injury, other experiences with dogs, and more. It may start as being apprehensive about being around dogs and spiral into other fears and lifestyle changes. Children often become fearful of going outside. 

Dog bite victims may experience long-term physical and psychological injuries and effects. The focus is usually on a person’s physical ailments since doctors can see it on the person or in diagnostic scans. They have a clear-cut treatment plan to help the person. However, even with medical intervention, a person can suffer scarring. That can lead to avoidance and body image concerns. 

Some dog bite victims will have difficulty moving beyond the incident when they have to see their scars as daily reminders. This can trigger flashbacks, cause negative thinking and even lead to mental health conditions. Facial injuries are especially difficult for survivors as they are harder to cover up. 

PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other conditions can have long-term effects even with professional help. While they can be long-lasting, many people find benefits in learning how to handle these situations through coping mechanisms. 

Recovery is an uphill battle and can involve surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. These recovery efforts are also emotionally and psychologically draining on individuals. Having a counselor or therapist to help during the process can help with the physical and psychological recovery. 

Seeking Support: Resources and Self Care

Many people do not seek support for their psychological injuries, whether because they are unaware anything is wrong or in denial of their symptoms. Seeking support is essential to move on from this incident. Many resources are available for dog bite victims that can help them. 

Therapy 

Ideally, victims will seek therapy to address the traumatic event. Therapists are trained to work with victims to address feelings like anxiety, fear, and stress. They can provide dog bite victims in New Jersey with coping strategies to help manage the emotions that come up after these incidents. A valuable treatment option is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) which focuses on PTSD and anxiety. 

Support groups 

Some victims prefer connecting with others through support groups. Hearing stories from other people in similar circumstances can help with the healing process. It can be reassuring and make victims feel less isolated and alone. Dog bite support groups also provide a safe space to express yourself.  

Victim advocacy groups 

Seeking help from a victim advocacy group can provide information about legal options, financial assistance, and more. These groups also provide education on how to prevent dog bites. They are valuable resources for dog bite victims. They can steer you in the right direction, and some have information about mental health resources. 

Self-care 

Aside from outside resources available, self-care can also help you. You should try to prioritize activities that bring you happiness. This can include participating in hobbies, spending time with family and friends, or doing yoga and meditation. Self-care does not just include having fun. It also involves maintaining your physical health through exercise and diet. Of course, only do activities that your doctor approves. 

Seeking Compensation for Psychological Trauma

Dog attacks can cause extreme trauma that may impact a person’s mental health. If a person is left with scarring or disfigurement, they may develop lower self-esteem and embarrassment and avoid going outside. Psychological trauma is rampant and unpredictable. While the initial focus will be on treating physical ailments, there must also be treatment for emotional injuries. 

When you work with a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey, you must address how psychological trauma impacts your personal injury claim. You might qualify to pursue compensation for items such as:

• Loss of wages 
• Past medical expenses
• Future psychiatric medical expenses 
• Estimated future lost wages 
• Ongoing pain and suffering 

Your case is unique, and you deserve an individual assessment of your losses. The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer can work with you to calculate your emotional distress damages. We work with experts and use formulas to calculate these losses. We want to help clients get the maximum compensation available for their cases. 

Bitten By a Dog? Call The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Today!

Dog bites are all we do, so we know the intricacies of these cases. We understand how debilitating a psychological injury can be in addition to the physical toll. Dog bite victims’ lives are often changed after these attacks. We believe you deserve to hold the dog owner responsible for your ongoing care and emotional distress. Call the office of The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer at (866) 260-2652 for an initial consultation.