Not really sure...

[Kinali]

So three months ago I was in a major car accident at 3am in Boston, Massachusetts. A guy had parked in the freeway and turned all of his lights off in the only lane open. This was a construction area. My friend didn't see him and slammed into the back of him at 45 mph. My friend's car was so damaged it no longer ran and paramedics told me they were shocked I wasn't hurt more than I was. Since then, when riding in cars with other people driving I completely panic if I feel they are getting too close to someone or if I feel like they are going too fast and going to rear end them. Today, I was riding with my mom and the stop light maybe 500 feet ahead of us turned green. The guy who was up there went to go but was going very slow. She was going pretty fast and I panicked again. Totally flipped out and started screaming to slow down. Last night, I started having dreams involving death. I am not sure what to think. I don't know if I should be worried or if I should give it sometime. Thoughts?!?!

[Hidden]

I think the key phrase is "I completely panic." It sounds to me like the accident really traumatized you - and that makes sense because it sounds very traumatic. I think your intuition is saying there's something there that needs to be addressed - I'd say trust your intuition.

[jamie2727]

It all sounds natural to me what you are going through - but I know it doesn't feel natural - and the feeling of panic is the worst. You survived a horrific accident and your body and mind are trying to process it. Whatever you feel you need to do - scream, cry, pray, stomp your feet - do it. Let it out however it comes out and it will eventually have less and less hold on you.

[AnyaC]

It sounds like classic PTSD to me... have you been diagnosed yet? I'm not an expert, of course, just a fellow sufferer.

I have discovered that the more I worry about it, the worse the symptoms get. It's better for me to just let it be what it is and try not to concentrate on how I'm feeling. I know how I'm feeling, and I know why, and there's not much I can do to change it.

Nightmares are a normal part of PTSD. Mine have plagued me for so many years, I don't sleep much at night. I'm usually up very late, and then sleep during the day to get the rest I desperately need. It is what it is for now. Later in the year, I'll be trying a new sleep aid to try to get on a normal sleep schedule - my life will demand that I am awake during the day for a couple of months. Until then, this schedule doesn't give me much time to get much done, or spend much time out of the house with my son and husband, but it's just the way things are. In time, it will change....

Hang in there! You're not alone! <3

[sianr]

You soul this is a natural reaction to the accident, maybe getting in the car was to soon as the memories of that night play like a broken down record player ( if your old enough to know what that is) 😁 when I had my accident I couldn't go near the site of it for a good 8 months and the first time I did in my car that was repaired I completely panicked. Despite my car being fixed I got rid of it as every time I looked at it it reminded me of that night . They say after an accident to get straight back on the horse but sometimes we need time to deal with the trauma and the impact . You were lucky not to be injured and I'm sure what the paramedic said sticks in your mind and you play it again and again . Visit your Dr maybe some trauma counselling is needed. You never mentioned what happened to your friend who was driving? Are they ok? Can you talk together about what happened?

[Kinali]

She is doing just fine:). She healed a lot faster than I did. She was trying to avoid the accident and turned to the left. I was on the right side and got the majority of the impact. She is having a hard time not blaming herself for this. Yes, she rear ended someone and usually that is your fault, but in my opinion he is the majority at fault and he got a ticket for that. I haven't told her any of this is going on. I don't want to make her feel worse than she already does. I haven't told the friend we both share either. I have pretty much blocked myself off and am very guarded. I just feel like instant judgement will follow. I don't want people to think I am nuts. I guess I just don't know what to say or what to do. I have thought a lot about it.

[Grimmie]

Hello Kinali. You need to talk to people about it, anyone who has asked you tell them, because l feel, mind you it is only something that l feel is right to do, not a medical opinion. You will get help from people on this site, as laymen. They are kind and will ' talk' to you and give you some help even if it is only discussing it. Good luck to you, get well soon