What is the single most terrifying thing you've had to endure? Did the experience help you in any way?

Answer 1

I was beaten, starved, sleep deprived and locked in a 3 foot cube steel box for over 28 hours (I'm 6'2''). It helped me not sweat the little stuff.

Answer 2

Hit by a car. It was only going 15 miles an hour, but it was a Lincoln, and had some mass. I got tossed a half-dozen feet, walked away fine. There was a split second there, where I thought I would die. It helped me, though, because It turns out, in bad situations, I think. That split second passed, and I shifted myself and hit the brakes at the right time (on a bike) and managed to miss the front of the car, and only bounced off the side. Glad to know I can handle myself in tense situations. Plus, I got alot more in touch with my mortality.

Answer 3

I was in a motocycle accident when I was 18. A car hit me, and I flew 10 feet in the air, and landed on the hood of his car, and then I bounced off the hood, and onto the road, where I skidded on my elbows for awhile, then, when I finally stopped moving, I turned my head, and his car wheel was inches from my head where he screeched it to a halt. while I was laying there, everything was in slow motion, and when I realized what had happened, I couldn't move my leg, and I couldn't sit up. I thought I was paralyzed, but I had a fractured femur, and my bone was popped out of my hip. The thing I remember most was I was thinking that I may never walk again. When I found out that my leg could be fixed, I was so relieved, and thanked God. It could have been a lot worse, like my head being squashed by that car tire!

Answer 4

Being barracaded in a basement classroom for an hour, 3 floors below ground at Dawson College on September 13th 2006, while listening to the number of injured increase and the possibility of more shooters in the building on the radio.

Learned that it is, indeed possible to get up, go out, and never return home. Every second is precious. Be kind.

Answer 5

Well once when I was cliff-diving (not huge cliffs, mind you... only about 15-20 ft above the water), I was climbing down to a ledge and I slipped and fell into the ocean. It wasn't the actual falling because I was fine (except for a few cuts), but I was terrified when I was climbing down because I was wet, it was slippery, and I had picked a rather steep place to go down.

The experience sort-of helped me, because the next year I faced my fears and climbed down to the same ledge to jump (though I almost fell again). So I know that I'm strong enough to give my phobias the finger and face them head-on :-)

Answer 6

I think what I am facing right now..I have been molested, abused, and endured car accident injuries and an NDE.

I really can't remember fear like I am going through right now.
I think the difference is that the other events have been sudden whereas this one is just a gradually building fear.

Or it could be that I feel I have something to live for at this point in my life whereas I didn't in my childhood...
Peace, my friend

Answer 7

I was in a hostage/domestic violence situation when I was 15 where I had to talk a completely stoned male family member out of blowing another family member's head off (drugs+alcohol+PTSD=VERY DANGEROUS!). Out of the blue, he came up behind her, put her in a head lock, put a pistol to her head and dragged her outside. It took me about 30 minutes to convince him to let her go.

This incident completely destroyed my innocence. This person was my hero, my superman and I had to stand there and watch him do a metaphoric nose dive into a pile of manure. I don't know that I'm totally over it, even after two decades. I hate guns now, especially when they are in the hands of a family member, and I refuse to have any association with people who have problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

I think this incident did help me to choose not to even try drugs or alcohol. It also showed me just how strong a person I was, even at the age of 15. I also learned that it is good to forgive but very unwise to forget. I never forgot and because of that I have made better decisions about the people I choose to be around, even family members.

Edit:
By the way, what was yours (if you don't mind me asking)?

Answer 8

Emergency C-section at 33 weeks.

I was terrified I would lose my son or that he would suffer due to the early birth. I was fortunate, he is perfectly normal and healthy and I came through fine.
I blame the health care system I was in at the time and I returned to a midwife's care with my third child. It was the best decision I could have made so I guess that could qualify.

Answer 9

Well, let's see. I've been mugged, beaten up, raped, in a house fire and in 2 serious car accidents (not all at the same time btw lol).

The most terrifying thing I've had to endure? Watching my child take her first steps.

Answer 10

The 20-30 minutes between learning my brother had been in a bad accident and learning he died. It was terrifying to think he could die. It was devastating to learn he did.

Did the experience help me in anyway? I guess I learned what things in life are a big deal and which are not. I certainly don't sweat the small stuff.