PTSD: CAR ACCIDENT WHEREBY I WAS THE PEDESTRIAN

[KitKat67]

I was hit by a left turner at a crosswalk Nov 21st. I can still remember the strange sensation as it did not feel like the 1,2,3 of the impact, being thrown into the air and the landing. It was a strange force that suddenly appeared out of nowhere...had a second to think that I was being killed by a car then coming to on the ground. Thankfully I didn't suffer any catastrophic injuries...some lingering physical issues but now I cannot sleep properly, I'm edgy and unhappy. Filled with anxiety and uber cautious when walking outside. My emotions are starting to get the best of me.

[HearYou]

Hopefully, you have had a full physical after the accident, and it is time to have your emotional part of your body checked. Please make certain your head is checked for any injury there. You don't mention any if this being done. Get the help you need now and don't wait to see if you get better, ok? Be there, done that. So PLEASE you be there, and DONE that as far as having your health checked., ok?

Don't place a label of PTSD on yourself until everything has been checked out by the right doctors, ok?

[KitKat67 in reply to HearYou]

Yes, I was examined at the hospital and have an excellent gp that I'm visiting weekly or bi-weekly to deal with each new post trauma issue as it appears.

[HearYou in reply to KitKat67]

Don't understand.....a GP doesn't usually treat the major issues of a PTSD nor diagnose it. But as long as you are happy with the doctor and your treatment, I wish you a very long and healthy life after surviving the accident :).

[KitKat67 in reply to HearYou]

She reckons it's PTSD due to my heightened sensitivity to loud noises, extra fearful near moving cars, my restlessness, stress and anxiety.

I've also been healing/grieving the loss of my son's father since mid June. We were divorced but still friends after all the years and distance between us. My son is older, owns a home and has a good job but it was unexpected because he was only 55.

I guess it's been one thing after another. I'm finding it hard to focus on my duties at my new job that I started 2 wks before the accident...ironically it's at a physiotherapy clinic. I get flustered and go blank and find it hard to keep up the pace needed of me to perform well.

[Maddie412]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, and I just want you to know that I understand how you're feeling. I was also in an accident with a few friends in early November. My boyfriend at the time was speeding (almost 50 in a 25 zone), and hit the brakes hard (we didn't hit the car in front of us, but it was super close) which caused my body to jolt forward and back. The seatbelt prevented me from hitting the dashboard, but as a result I strained my scapular muscle (in shoulder). Since the accident I've been going to PT to regain my motion and strength. I've also been experiencing numbness going down my entire arm to my fingertips. I'm going for nerve testing in a few weeks since my doctor believes I have nerve damage.

Everyday I struggle physically and emotionally, and the biggest problems I have are flashbacks and anxiety when I'm a passenger in a car. I don't remember every detail of the accident since I was in shock, but I vividly remember going forward so quickly and the numbness following. When I'm with my mom and she starts to brake, I quickly pull my seatbelt away from me and push myself back into my seat because I don't want to go forward. She could be going 5mph and I would still do this!! I get anxious in crowds and around people because I don't want them to bump into my shoulder. I've been dealing with severe anxiety, depression, and some sleep issues too, and I can't ever stop thinking about what happened and how lucky we are to be okay (if we hit the car, I think we all would've been badly hurt or worse..)

For the people who say 'oh, you'll get over it', 'it's not a big deal', 'stop worrying so much you're fine', THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT!!! Just because you're still standing doesn't mean that you're not still hurting physically and/or emotionally. It may not seem like a big deal to others, but it was a traumatic event that YOU experienced. I hope you're able to seek help for your anxiety and sleep problems, and please know that I'm here if you need to talk.