Post Car Accident Anxiety/Trauma - Normal Feelings or Consider Seeking Help?

[Buttercup363]

In mid-April of this year I was involved in a serious car accident in which my car was t-boned. My passenger was uninjured but I suffered multiple serious injuries, plus suffered from nerve damage in my lower leg. I also have very little memory of the accident but remember every small detail in the lead up.
I have continuously been told how lucky I am, how emergency services expected me to be dead from first look at the car, and how close I was to having a majorly different outcome - possibly a broken spine or fatality. My partner has also spoken frequently about how he initially thought I was dead for a second and how he assumed I wouldn't be able to walk again. He and my family have been really protective of me since, making sure I'm being super cautious and that I'm not going to do anything that could risk a fall or make my injuries worse.
Initially I knew I was extremely lucky and felt the need to live without holding back as you never know how long you have, but since then I have found myself carefully considering the possible outcomes of everything.

Prior to the accident I had been pretty fearless. I am usually quite active, love going on adventures and trying new things. I've gone skydiving in past with no hesitation and loved every second of it, telling myself that one day I will do it again, yet now even just looking at photos of those times that I loved makes me feel anxious - my heart rate speeds up a bit and I begin to feel nauseous. I can't even begin to imagine doing any of these things again and often find myself thinking about all the things I have spent years wanting to do in the future that I now wouldn’t even consider doing as a result.
I'm currently unable to walk much due to the pelvis injuries but am very slowly getting back to an everyday routine. My doctors have told me this fear is normal and nothing to worry about as it will pass when I am able to get out and about again. I worry that this is something that won't just disappear as it's making me question everything I've done in past and everything I've wanted to do in future.

Has anyone had any similar experiences? Is this something has just gone away? Or is this something to consider speaking to someone about sooner rather than later?

[startingnew]

Hi Buttercup and welcome

Well done on reaching out for some more supports. Your sounding like your struggling quite alot atm.

Having anxiety/depression/ptsd isnt uncommon for those who have sufferred a traumatic experience. What ive picked up on though is despite your gp saying this is normal, you think you need more help and thats a really big step. Its more than ok to ask for more support to help you get back on your feet ( in all aspects of life not just physically)

Do you think you could talk to your gp about extra supports like a psychologist? Being able to talk to someone and process your thoughts as well as learn to move forward after this accident i think would be beneficial. You may find that after a few sessions and working through your thoughts youll become less anxious and feel more at ease.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Buttercup363,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for reaching out.

Sorry to hear that you were in an accident and I’m glad that you’re okay. It sounds like it’s having a real impact on you and I’m glad that you reached out.

Your question about if it’s something that goes away is a good one - but there’s nobody that can answer that for you. Our brains are all quite weird, and 10 people could go through exactly the same situation that you have and all have different ways of responding. Some might have consistent nightmares; others might feel fine; others might be okay and have traumatic experiences later on.

Personally, I feel like your doctor might be shrugging you off a little - as even if what you’re experiencing does pass quickly, it’s still very important and worth thinking about. Doctors don’t tend to have a lot of experience or training in mental health - especially trauma related experiences. Psychologists on the other hand, do.

If you’d like to speak to someone, I would encourage it. There is absolutely no harm in doing so and you don’t need to be ‘very unwell’ to do it. You may find that just being able to talk about some of those fears is helpful, or getting some reassurance that what you’re feeling is totally normal and reinforcing that you should not stop this accident from living your life.

Hope this is helpful!

Also to your other question - I have been involved in a few car accidents (unfortunately) - with all very different experiences. I’ve had ones that have lingered on for a while and others that create some anxiety short-term. I’ve found pushing myself to do more things has been helpful (like getting back in the car or trying to just be mindful of my anxiety while reassuring myself that it’s over and I’m safe now).