I saw someone lying lifelessly on the road this morning after being hit by a car. I jus became so emotionally involved, i couldn't help but cry when i thought about his family- even though i don't know this person, i jus thought: It could've easily been my brother. Now i jus feel so down and depressed, can't evn concentrate @ work. My colleagues think I'm crazy to cry over someone I don't even know. Whats your take?
2007-01-11 20:56:33 · 16 answers · asked by justhulice 4 in Health ➔ Mental Health
no there is nothing wrong with you. you have gone through a extreme shock and trauma in your life. it is a normal reaction from a caring person such as yourself. your colleagues at work have never gone through this type of trauma, and have no business telling you you are crazy.. you need their support, not criticism. in time u will get better, if not seek some counseling for yourself. take care of yourself.
2007-01-12 02:10:27 · answer #1 · answered by zeek 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't remember exactly when it was, but it was in the late 80's that I witnessed a terrible wreck involving a very old couple. They were driving a really old car and although there was not a whole lot of damage to their car, the man was pretty banged up and the woman was having a heart attack. There was no one else around so I went to help them while the owner of a store fairly near the accident called the police. The old man (probably in his lat 70s) got out of the car and started walking around and mumbling all sorts of things. He had a pretty nasty head injury and was bleeding rather bad. I tried to get him to settle down but he was so shook up that I was unsuccessful. I went to his wife's side of the car and kept her seated. She kept complaining that her neck hurt really bad and that her chest was hurting too. (I'm certain it was a heart attack) yet she was trying to get out of the car.
I remember every detail about that accident. I even remember seeing a glove laying on the side of the road after everything was over and everyone was gone. I wanted so much to call the hospital to find out if the woman survived because they had to bring in a chopper and were really struggling to keep her alive when it left. I never did call though. I couldn't bring myself to do it because I was afraid that she didn't make it. I only spent about a half hour with that old couple, but they have forever changed my life. I will never forget them, how they looked, how they sounded and what we all went through.
I do not think yo uare crazy because of how you feel. I do think you need to sit down and talk to someone about it. Maybe not a counselor (unless you really want to) but you could just sit down and talk to a friend or a close family member. It may even help to just email someone about the entire experience, expressing everything, how you felt, what you saw, how you feel now. Get the entire ordeal off of your chest.
There is nothing wrong with you. Those that think you are crazy, did NOT see a lifeless body, on the road, with their own eyes. If they had, it would have triggered something within their souls too. They can deny it, but the fact is, not until you actually see a dead person (or injured person) involved in an accident, with your very own eyes, will you know how it will affect you.
May God bless you and peace be with you.
2007-01-12 05:23:24 · answer #2 · answered by †♥mslamom♥† 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bless your heart. I wish there were more people like you in the world. You must be a truly caring person. You have been through a very traumatic experience. Your colleagues are being insensitive. I wonder how many of them have cried (or felt like crying) when something horrible has happened in the world (the trade towers, Katrina) and didn't personally know anyone involved. People deal with things differently. Don't be ashamed of your reaction. It shows that you have a wonderful understanding of the value of life. If you can't concentrate, take the rest of the day off. God Bless you sweetie. You'll be in my prayers.
2007-01-12 09:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by rrcoyote 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think your collleagues are wrong. Any time that someone sees this type of tragedy and is not shaken up by it- they need to be worried about their lack of compassion.
I totally understand how you feel because I am a medic and making a call to the scene of a motor vehicle crash is my least favorite incident to respond to.
What you are feeling is a normal reaction. If this continues, you can call your local fire department and ask if they could advise you who in town in the incident crisis debriefing counselor. This is a person that is trained to meet with people and discuss the events that a person had to deal with or with what they saw.
It will get better, but I think you could really benefit from talking with this person. Or you could talk to a minister, sometimes they are very helpful in helping you get over this.
Good luck to you.
2007-01-12 05:10:06 · answer #4 · answered by rosey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it is understandable that you should feel sympathy for the family. Perhaps you have similar or near experiences that involved someone you loved? Or perhaps you have other stresses that promoted the outburst of emotions.
But whatever it is, it is generally best to keep such outbursts to a minimum, or in the privacy of your own room. The world is a cruel one, and they don't often take the time to listen to your story.
2007-01-12 05:05:40 · answer #5 · answered by Benvenuto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You were involved in a traumatic experience...your co-workers were not. Our home burnt to the ground. A couple of year later a neighbor home caught fire. My wife and I stood crying. I guess people thought we were crazy also. You never know how the human ind will work. Don't be questioning yourself for being human
2007-01-12 06:25:50 · answer #6 · answered by Wat Da Hell 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not crazy, you have been traumatized. It is not an everyday occurance to witness what you did. You are also a very sensitive person who cares deeply about people. The world would be so much better off if all people were as sensitive and caring as you. You have the gift of empathy. Bless you.
2007-01-12 05:36:59 · answer #7 · answered by sashali 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Empathy is a double-edged sword; It can help as well as hurt us. In this case, it seems like you've had a normal empathetic moment...but you've let the moment take charge of YOU rather than having YOURSELF take charge of the MOMENT.
Emotions can and WILL run wild with us if we don't act on them on a cognitive level. Chances are you haven't really examined what this all meant to you, and why, without first pushing aside your emotions for just awhile.
No ones asking you to be a robot, of course, but having a moment of calm reflection on a traumatic moment can only help you in the long run.
2007-01-12 05:07:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not crazy and there is nothing wrong in you. You are a wonderful pereson who instantaneously give vent to your feelings on such a sad demise. This used to happen in the good old days and because of the materialist outlook the present generation have lost the feeling of sympathy towards others.
Pray to God to give you the strength to bear such emotional situations. I am really happy to know about you.
2007-01-12 05:23:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could not change your nature about this.. also I can not forget accident of a child I saw 3 years back.. that was horrible.. I was also emotionally involved but time is the medicine of everything.. you will be ok as time pasts
2007-01-12 05:06:55 · answer #10 · answered by Nishu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋