Why watching something like human accident makes one feel so uneasy in stomach? I was suddenly started perspiring heavily and was about to faint at the sight of crushed human head. What exactly happened inside my body to trigger these physiological symptoms, and why?
2006-09-02 17:53:27 · 8 answers · asked by Raj 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
You're experiencing shock and an empathic response. When a human being is hurt or killed, we hurt for them, mentally and even physically. It means you value human life. Or life in general, since many of us would also react strongly to animal pain and death.
You are also responding to a threat to your own life. If one human head can be crushed, so can yours. You are generally aware of this on an unconscious level, but the accident forces it into center stage. You then have a sickening awareness of your own mortality. After that comes terror and adrenaline. If you're sitting in a nice safe car while these emotions come, it can be very jarring. Safe or not? Flee or not? The confusion can be painful while you sit there and try to process this.
These responses help civilization to exist. People who are oblivious to the misfortune of others often turn out to be killers and sociopaths. Police and EMT can become inured to ugly situations, but you can bet they are not immune.
Your reaction sounds normal, and very traumatic. I'm sorry it happened.
2006-09-02 17:59:08 · answer #1 · answered by KALEL 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many in the time I drove trucks over the road. For example, I saw a truck accident on I-35 southbound on the south side of Little Rock, Arkansas. The truck plummeted off a bridge, tearing the trailer in two. The cargo was spilled all over the muddy embankment below.......its cargo of Gateway computers! Another time, I narrowly avoided being in a fatal accident. This was on I-65 southbound in northern Indiana about two years ago. I was on my return trip to Florida, coming from Chicago when I found myself in the company of two trucks - a empty flatbed semi and a semi tanker - which were driving somewhat erratically. I pulled into a rest area to take a break as they zoomed past. Some time later, I left the rest area to continue my southward trip when the traffic slowed, and after a little while we were routed off onto a service road along the interstate. The two trucks that zipped past as I pulled into the rest area had collided and were sitting in the median, and the whole area was burned to a crisp. As it turned out, the tanker was carrying a full cargo of jet fuel. Neither driver survived.
2016-03-17 07:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shock
2006-09-02 17:59:30 · answer #3 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shock/stress. Fight/flight response... blood going to where it thinks it is needed... why= mostly seeing a crushed head brings visuals and thoughts that most are more comfortable NOT (re)viewing.
2006-09-02 17:58:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your brain initiated a stress response which causes the endocrine system to release cortisol and adrenaline.
There is a possibility of experiencing Post Traumatic Stress in the future 1-6 months down the line after that experience.
PTSD does not kick in right after the event, it has a delayed effect.
If you start experiencing recurrent nightmares or start avoiding things that remind you of that event then please seek the help of a professional, because it usually does not go away on its own.
2006-09-02 17:58:30 · answer #5 · answered by isaac a 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Medical shock can be caused by purely emotional reactions; you were shocked as though you yourself had been severely injured. Read up on medical shock. (as distinct from electrical shock.)
I want to offer my sympathies to you as well as the injured person and their family. It is a terrible trauma and a very difficult thing to experience, even second hand.
2006-09-02 18:09:09 · answer #6 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's the 'fight or flight' response. You saw the result of violence and your body is rigged to prepare you to flee or fight the cause of it.
Adrenaline is pumped into the blood to give a burst of energy. Blood is withdrawn from the gut to power the muscles. It is a normal physiological response.
2006-09-02 17:59:23 · answer #7 · answered by speakeasy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
guessing, you probably went into shock. it is a turama to the mind to have to witness something like that. i would suggest talking to a doctor or physicatrist.
2006-09-02 18:02:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
stress can cause heart attacks... You witnessed something terrible. It startled you and scared you enough that it was probably affecting your pulse, blood pressure,etc... You almost fainted. You saw something noone wants to see.
2006-09-02 18:03:30 · answer #9 · answered by Scorpius59 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋