Even after the physical injuries have healed, an accident victim may still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She may continue to experience flashbacks, nightmares, or daydreams in which the traumatic event is replayed again and again. The person may also suffer an abnormally intense “startle response” – like a rush of anxiety that bursts from her brain and shoots to her fingertips accompanied by a rapid heart rate. Other symptoms of PTSD may include impaired memory and difficulty concentrating and insomnia (or even a fear of sleeping due to the nightmares). The trauma of the accident disrupts various intellectual and emotional processes. It is sometimes referred to as “a normal reaction to abnormal event.”
PTSD symptoms are among those that may be included in an award for pain and suffering as discussed here.