have you ever been in a road accident or traumatic accident of another kind?

Question

i was in a serious road accident where i was knocked over. it was 2 years ago and i still havent got over it fully. its changed my whole life and the way i think. and has caused me some problems in my life with loved ones etc.

has anyone been through anything like this? how long does it take to finally stop thinking about it?

Answer 1

someone hit us head on i became parralised

Answer 2

UKlady-Sorry to hear about your accident. Hopefully, over time, things will improve.

Myself, I don't mix well with cars.Between being hit by a semi, a train, sideswiped by a car, hit twice by cars riding a mt bike, a couple of head ons, a few other fender benders, it's no wonder I don't drive anymore. Oh, don't get me wrong, I can drive, but just don't have a car at the moment. Doubt I will ever again. I'm thinking a motorcycle should be the next transportation adventure.

Sure, there were injuries, some less serious than others, but that's life. Stuff happens, and we either deal with it or we don't, so if stuff, life that is, is going to happen me, I'm not going to sit around and moan about how awful things are, just because I never was able to pursue a career as a ballerina or gymnast; instead, I have decided not to let life happen to me at all. I'm going to happen to life. (That's right! You just witnessed an epiphany in the making.)

As for this question, if you're giving points for over-all gnarliness and damage from the accidents, I think Simon has us all beat, and there really is no point to my even entering the competition.

Answer 3

I had a traumatic accident 13 years ago, I fell down a flight of stone steps and broke several bones in my spine and now have difficulties walking and standing, I feel I was lucky because other people might have ended up paralysed from the same sort of accident, I still have flashbacks even now and if I have to come down a flight of steps, especially steep stone ones I have bad panic attacks at times over that, my accident cause me problems with my husband, I am a very independent person and when he had to start helping me get dressed and get me in and out of the bath I felt like my life had been taken out of my hands and I had no self respect left, but with his love and understanding I have come to terms with that side of my life so much more now, any accident is bound to have an adverse effect on your life simply because they are very traumatic and it does change something inside you, you have less confidence and trust, you know if things are really getting to you so badly then do you think you might benefit from some trauma counselling at all, they are very good and it does help, maybe it might be a while yet before you do stop thinking about your accident, but it will become less and less over time, hope your OK and good luck.

Answer 4

Yes, I have had an accident or two, one quite serious. I nearly lost my eye.
It might be a good thing that you've changed the way you think and react. Perhaps you've become less impulsive and think before you do stuff now. Your loved ones love you right back, and they must understand the trauma that you've been through. They are the only people that you can count on not to take it personally, but after 2 yrs they must be getting weary if you're bad-tempered.

You may never stop thinking about the accident, but in time it will fade to a distant memory. In the meantime, it sounds as if you could use some counselling, which is common after such a trauma. You may have a stress- or trauma-induced disorder, such as PTSD. See your doctor, ask for counselling.

Answer 5

Hiya, i was in a serious (near fatal) car accident last October. I was the driver and had had my drink spiked, and i crashed at about 60mph with my eleven year old sister in the car that night.

Luckiy i crashed into a ditch, as i went the wrong way around a major round about-which saved our lives, as if i had crashed into anything else there was no chance we would have survived.

I got banned from driivng for 2 years as i couldnt proove my innocense and had no memory of that day when i had been drinking.

To this day i still feel responsible for what happened and blame myself for putting my sister through such an ordeal that day.

Plus on top of it all i was arrested and thrown into prison for the night-which was an absolutely horrendous experience-as once i woke up i didnt know what the hell was going on.

We were extremely lucky to get out alive and the car was a write off. We didnt have any injuries whatsoever, and it was a total miracle. In the morning i didnt know whether my sister was dead or alive when i woke up-that was the most frightening experience of my life.

I still feel extremely guilty and low sometimes and am thinking baout getting counselling for it, as i would suggest you do aswell! Its been a year now and i am still feeling low and anxious whenever i get into a car.

It didnt help that 3 months after my car accident, a hit and run driver smashed into my mums car with myself as the passenger. We lost 2 cars in less than 3 months in total, but at least we came out alive which is what i have to be very thankful for, as do you :)

I dont think you can ever forget what happened to you entirely, after all it is an experience. I tried to see the positive aspects of my experience-for example i know that i will never leave my dirnks attended again-and that i will be a responsible driver in future. Plus its changed me as a person and i am far less likely to take the risks i did a year ago.

The accident with you though wasnt your fault at all though, so obviousley you will feel different-more of the victim if you see what i mean? I would definately suggest some counselling as i am planning on doing this also, just to be able to talk to someone one on one. A problem shared is a problem halfed after all :)

hope this helps xx

Answer 6

I was in two pretty bad road accidents within 3 months of each other about 2 years ago... My injuries were pretty bad.

But for some reason I've never really thought about it, and it's never got me down and can't say it has caused me any problems.

I would say my friends and family were more upset than i was!

I guess everyone deals with things differently, just try to stay positive and everything should follow.

Being able to take out your brain and put it in a box definitely has some advantages in this kind of scenario!

Hope everything works out

peace

Answer 7

Yes I've been in a couple. As a passenger when young the car slid on Black Ice and hit a pole. While driving myself a van ripped the nose off my car while I sat at a junction.

As for changes they haven't, really. The first could have happened to anyone and shows the dangers of this type of ice or unseen spillage. The second simply confirmed my views of many other drivers and the insurance companies (mine rolled over, even though the case could have been won by me).

If you keep cutting yourself up over things you will never be able to get back into the swing of life. Life doesn't stop and allow you to take a time out. Its important to get back into things. True the event may affect you for a while but if you let it drive you, you will lose out.

Answer 8

Yes, car accident many years ago.

To address your real question of how long it takes to stop thinking about it, it does pass, or at least lessen. It takes time, and you may need some help (like talking to someone, friend or professional), but with time - the greatest healer - it really will get much easier. Just try and draw on the more positive elements when you think of it - that you survived, for a start. You won't ever completely stop thinking about it, or forget it entirely, but you will find a more balanced perspective.

It will become easier for you. I hope that happens quickly.

Answer 9

the result, both emotional and physical, of a bad accident is very subjective. My accident was a head-on collision. Both knees hit the steering wheel and dash. I was a marathon aerobics health nut! My life as I knew it was OVER. If this had happened to another person that was a couch potato...it would not have changed their life that much.

That was in 1996. I still cringe at red lights and avoid a left hand turn crossing on-coming traffic when I can. Now, I will have to have surgery on my knees as I grow older...my weight and health have suffered and I am not as active as I would have been...bottom line...it never really leaves your life...you just learn to deal with it better as time goes on.

Answer 10

Had a climbing accident when I was 14 and lost a leg. Don't really know how it has affected my life as I don't know what it would have been like with two legs. You cant not stop thinking about but you can stop worrying about it as this only makes thing worse. Resolve to ignore it and just carry as though it had not happened as far as possible. That worked for me

Answer 11

It can take many years. Have you considered counselling, it may help to talk things over. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a recognised condition, it does not just affect people who have lived through disasters or been to war, but anyone who has been through a traumatic event like a serious accident. You may want to consider going to your GP and asking for counselling, it doesn't mean you're 'mad' just that you could do with talking it through with someone.