Emotional and psychological support · Recovery compass
Recovery compass
This gentle check-in can help you put those experiences into words and explore support options. You do not need to know what to call the problem before asking for help.
This check-in is unavailable right now. You can still view support options below.
Support options
These options are available without answering any questions.
Some symptoms need medical help now
Following a head injury, get emergency medical help for a worsening headache that will not settle, repeated vomiting, a seizure, new weakness or numbness, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, new or increasing confusion, unusual behavior, loss of consciousness, or difficulty staying awake.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Please connect with a person who can help. In the U.S., call or text 988, or use the 988 Lifeline chat. You can reach out even if you are unsure what to say.
External site: 988lifeline.org
Your healthcare professional
A primary care or treating healthcare professional can help you decide where to begin, especially when physical symptoms, thinking changes, sleep, and emotions overlap. Licensed mental health professionals can help with emotional difficulties. Your healthcare professional can advise whether specialist or rehabilitation care would be useful.
Find professional care in the U.S.
FindTreatment.gov offers a U.S. directory of mental health and substance use treatment services.
External site. The directory does not guarantee availability or suitability.
Browse all topics
Each topic has its own short set of questions. You can open any of them. The order does not indicate severity.
Worry and feeling unsafe
Feeling on edge can make ordinary moments feel demanding. These questions help you describe when worry shows up and what it gets in the way of.
Worry can deserve attention when it is difficult to manage or limits daily life. A professional can help you understand the pattern and consider physical symptoms or other factors that may contribute.
Low mood and loss of interest
You may feel sad, empty, disconnected, or less interested in things that used to matter. You do not have to explain why before asking for support.
Persistent low mood or loss of interest can be worth discussing, especially when daily life is affected. Injury, pain, sleep, medicines, life circumstances, and depression are among the possibilities a professional may consider.
Distressing reminders and avoidance
Sounds, places, memories, or travel can bring the incident close again. You can answer without describing what happened.
Distressing reminders or avoidance can interfere with daily life after a frightening experience. A professional familiar with trauma can help you understand these reactions. Having them does not by itself establish PTSD.
Guilt and self-blame
Questions such as ‘Why did this happen?’ or ‘What should I have done?’ can be painful to carry. Feeling responsible is not the same as establishing responsibility.
Repeated self-blame can make it harder to seek or accept support. A professional can help you examine these thoughts without asking this website to decide who was at fault.
Thinking and memory changes
Changes in memory or concentration can be unsettling. These questions help you describe what is different. They are not a memory test.
Thinking changes after a road incident can have several causes. Medical assessment can help identify what needs attention and whether rehabilitation or another service may be useful.
Sleep and energy
Sleep and energy changes can make recovery harder to manage. These questions help you describe your experience without assuming the cause.
Sleep changes can occur alongside injury, emotional distress, pain, and other health problems. Discussing the pattern can help a professional consider the next steps.
Physical symptoms and daily comfort
Physical symptoms can affect how you feel emotionally. They also deserve attention in their own right.
A healthcare professional can assess physical symptoms and their effects on daily life. This questionnaire cannot determine whether a symptom comes from injury, emotional distress, or another cause.
Irritability and emotional overwhelm
You may notice a shorter temper or stronger feelings than you expected. These questions help you describe the change without judging you.
Pain, fatigue, stress, and changes after injury can all be relevant to emotional reactions. A professional can help you understand what is happening and discuss support.
Grief and changes in life
You may be grieving a person, a lost ability, a changed routine, or a part of life that feels different. There is no required way to describe that loss.
Support can give you room to talk about loss and changes in life. You do not need to fit a diagnosis or a timetable to ask for it.
Connection and everyday support
Recovery can involve practical problems as well as difficult feelings. You may need help with daily tasks, appointments, money, transport, or being understood.
Sometimes the next step is practical assistance or a person who understands. These needs deserve attention even when no mental health condition is present.
Coping choices and substance concerns
People try many ways to get through distress. If alcohol, drugs, or medicines are worrying you, you can ask for support without being judged.
A healthcare professional can discuss your concerns, medicines, and other ways to get support. Asking a question does not require you to identify with a diagnosis.
Paying for care
Worried about the cost of care? Learn how health insurance, auto coverage, work benefits, public programs and free services can help pay for therapy.
How to pay for psychological help after a serious car crashWe do not provide emergency, medical, or clinical services. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.