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MVA Anyone Else Been In A Car Accident?

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@Gadgie
would you also agree that the most common thing said to an EMT by a victim/patient is "I didn't think this would ever happen to me" ?

A few days back I was totally reliving event after event, headed for the circling the drain kind of thinking that will lead me back to a deep depressive event. I stopped myself and asked "what triggered this?"
It was a news story, a woman was killed in a cross walk and the driver stayed on scene and was not cited because she was blinded by the sun.

Blinded by the sun.


Guilty of thinking "I can't see, but I am going to continue to drive at full speed anyway". Evidently extreme stupidity and selfishness isn't considered a crime behind the wheel these days. Sometimes I can imagine the scene without being there and it is enough to be like being there and feeling the frustration of the EMT that had to load that corpse knowing it was all because someone didn't think driving when you can't see was a bad idea.
 
I used to do out patient work during the day, then do on call in the evening and week ends on the A & E ambulance, as second member of crew. There were three of us, who took it in turns, on a seven day on, then fourteen days off rota.

But the other two often were often off sick, or due to stress, so I ended up covering their shifts as well, which meant I had to do a lot more on call work?

This went on for months until I eventually collapsed, with what we thought was a heart attack. However, after doing many tests at the heart Hospital, they said it was total physical and mental breakdown! Too many missed meals, and nights without sleep?

It took me a long time to recover from that, in fact that along with my back injury, finished my working life?
 
Hey, guys, this is actually my first time posting here. I was in a car accident in October of 2013 and feel the same things that so many other people have posted, especially the "it changed my life" sentiment. I feel like there's this dividing line in the sand that was my personality before and my personality now; there's a complete disconnect there. I was rear-ended on the highway by some lady in a huge SUV at 45-50mph. At the scene I was able to get out of the car and call my stepfather who works a mile away for help and get out of the car to sit on the side of the road. I was really shaking and disoriented. I started to cry and was gasping for air so the car in front of me called emergency services for me. By the time they had me in an ambulance, I was still hyperventilating and crying and couldn't tell the EMTs where my pain was. Finally an hour or two later I was left alone in a room in the dark with a blanket and that calmed me down. The doctor said I was in shock and had whiplash, but should be fine. No CT scan, no tests, no warnings about what symptoms might crop up.

I went to physical therapy, but didn't improve much. After going back to work, my pain increased and I started to have mood swings. At about 5 weeks out I went out for drinks one night with friends. The next day I woke up feeling out of it. At first thought it was a hangover, but I couldn't feel things in my hands right and couldn't think straight. My whole body from head to toe went numb--I started freaking out and couldn't feel anything emotionally or physically for a full week. After looking around the internet, I discovered that dissociation can cause this and the explanation of everything helped. It didn't go away, however, and I found myself suddenly unable to drive my car at all. Going out in public became a chore and going anywhere with bright lighting was terrifying. I'd have panic attacks at work for what felt like hours whenever there was the slightest conflict with a co-worker.

Physical therapists/ortho doc had no idea what to do and were totally dismissive about my anxiety symptoms being related to the accident. "If you're having panic attacks, you should probably see a therapist about that because I don't know what could cause that", etc. They diagnosed me with "somatic pain" and released me from treatment without resolving anything. I saw a neurologist then who found I had post-concussive syndrome from a severe concussion that wasn't caught and a bulging disc between my C5-C6 vertebrae. He insisted that should all take care of itself, but referred me to a psychiatrist. At our very first meeting he diagnosed me with PTSD, major depression, and panic disorder, and gave me 3 different psych drugs. None of them helped. Despite asking for tools and strategies to stop panic attacks and manage my anxiety level, he only ever used simple talk therapy, which lead to nothing but wallowing.

Eventually, I quit all the meds and therapy of my own accord after deciding it wasn't helpful. I did then improve a great deal. I still struggled with depression and stress and was recommended a chiropractor by a friend. This was a huuuuuge step and one I recommend anyone suffering from both anxiety and pain from an accident try! Turns out my Atlas/C1 vertebrae (among several others) was out of place and pushing on the part of my brain that creates the fight vs. flight response. Adjustments gave me lots of relief, but I recently had a terrible relapse into dissociation and anxiety. I'm now looking for a cognitive behavioral therapist to help in conjunction with the chiropractic treatments...hitting both the mental and physical symptoms, as it were.

Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms of bodily/mental numbness under stress? Were you able to resolve that? Even if no one has answers or tools for these issues, for me just knowing that other people out there have experienced similar problems makes it all feel a little more manageable. Thanks in advance.
 
I was in a pretty bad car accident a year ago when I was 17 on 3/13/13 around 3:15 PM; it happened when...

I hit a pedestrian who stepped in front of my car on a 55 mph highway. She had been drinking and was not aware of what she was doing. I had no time to react...mere feet, but I did. I stood on the brakes and turned the wheel. She was a big girl. Her body busted up my lights and dented my hood. Her fist hit my windshield. My driver's side mirror was torn off. The police did a thorough investigation. They confirmed all I could have done. I'm on Antivan for anxiety attacks. Every time someone steps near my car, I freak out.
 
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Having an accident or any trauma like that can release the adrenalin into your body, which can cause all sorts of weird things to happen.

For PTSD sufferers like us it can act as a trigger, it definitely did in my case, it jolted my brain to release all the bad things that had been stored away inside my brain.

Maybe that is what happened to you, as shock comes in many forms, and can cause different effects to peoples lives.
 
Hello

It is hard to talk to people about these things. When they can no longer see the injuries they think you are fine. And if the injuries are still present and they can see them, they think you are coping with them. They want you to move on. I don't want to be defined as the car wreck person. Some of my friends were in bike wrecks which made them different people, too.

It is just letting go I guess , letting go of what was and trying to move on. Will post more later. Not a lot of sleep lately.
 
I was in 2 bad wrecks in less than 2 years. Neither were my fault, the first one I was waiting for traffic to clear so I could make a left hand turn. The guy behind me was playing with his radio and hit me doing 65mph. I ended up upside down facing the opposite direction.
The next wreck was at a red light and the guy was running from police. He hit 2 other cars before t-boning me in my drivers door. I didn't even see him get out and run!
Now after each wreck I healed up in about 6 weeks and went back to work. Thank God my injuries were not serious at all. My work was delivering auto parts and my family is into cars (racing, car shows, you name it) but about a little over a year I went into a severe depression the kind that gave me bad thoughts so I ended up staying at a mental facility for about a week. After I got home that's when the anxiety of being in a car or seeing hearing a wreck happen hit me! That was 3 years ago and it's still bad today! I am so easily startled and it pisses me off when my family tells me "just chill out mom"! I'm like I wish I could!! I don't like feeling like this.
 
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Have you seen a trauma therapist? We cannot, and do not diagnosis PTSD here on the forum, but based on your post you are certainly struggling with the trauma you have suffered.

If you see a therapist they can determine if you have PTSD, and will help you get started on the road to recovery.
 
I was in a near fatal head on accident in 2007. It really effected me. A driver came out of no where
pushed me into the gutter as had no where to go and I totally wrote my beautiful car off but blessed to only walk away with 5 bruised ribs.

I now drive a ute with lots of protection at the side and back to feel safer, I still have my days but believe I did suffer very badly with PTSD in relation to the severity of the car accident for ages.

I just want to say to all thanks for sharing your journey, know you can get better and to stop and take a deep breath when you feel panicky as it really helps.
 
I'm not to sure if this is the correct place to post this. I have PTSD due to a car accident and ju...

Hi, I was recently in a car accident as well and have felt everything as you have. I hardly watch any television or movies due to the panic attacks and severe emotional response that seeing those car accidents can bring. I am so tense when I am in a car as I fear another accident will occur. I am still getting through it myself but what has helped me was avoiding my triggers, and doing other things that brought me peace, talking a loud to close ones about it and just giving myself time to process. I hope that you start to forgive yourself soon and truly believe that it wasn't your fault. You are so much stronger than you think and you and your children will get through this. I wish you the best
 
I had a car accident 25 yrs ago when I was 4-5 months pregnant. I was read ended while stopped in traffic. I was mostly worried about baby and as soon as I could have tests, after delivery, they found cervical herniated discs with stenosis that worsens with age. I did not get ptsd or anything, but I did get Fibromyalgia/CFIDS following delivery. Years later, I read about pain from accident that did not go away related to trauma, and it even entails things such as Irritable bowel syndrome which I got after accident really bad. I did go through a period of vague anxiety. I could drive fine, but I recall going out at night and not being able to get out of my car and go into the store, and driving back home. I got very ill after this, but was never diagnosed with ptsd or anything.

I worked to strengthen my body back to a pre pregnancy state and even stronger. The stronger I got, the more empowered I felt for certain. I think that feeling run down and weak and tired made me feel vulnerable but not exactly sure why...will give thought.

I had a slip and fall that was very bad though, and it was caused by a second employee not showing up to trail mop after a machine and the only employee there not putting the warning signs out. It was all in slow motion as someone else described their accident, then I was unconscious. I remember coming to, and all I could think about was my mother punishing me for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I was 47 yrs old and she was dead for 5 yrs. I suffered TBI, broken rib and collapsed lung, depression and anxiety, sleep disorder, personality changes, and eventually post TBI sequalea. Still not diagnosed with ptsd though. (that came after an assault and a lot of abuse I took from the bad choices I made after this)

I did not have a good support system in place at this time. Most close friends were going through major life events such as divorce, I was single parent, and no family support. Regardless of the type of accident, I would advise getting your supports in order and doing as many healthy things as possible and watching things such as alcohol and diet. It can be a critical time. Wishing you well. Accidents do happen without life long effects. I am praying for you
 
So here's what's crazy. I've been diagnosed with PTSD informally, (a counsellor that I talked to over the phone.) I was in an accident a month ago to the day. I was yielding to traffic and was smacked from behind at about 70km/h. Compared to what I've seen here, not too bad. Nobody died, nobody was badly hurt (evident immediately), there wasn't blood on the road, nothing like that. Yet I'm afraid to get into a car. I still do, I have to, but as soon as I sit down my chest gets tight, and then any near miss (which has become somebody is within 10ft of me) sends me into a panic. It's made me a dangerous driver. I'm really afraid I'm going to hit someone because of my fear of being hit! I seriously spend almost more time watching what's going on behind me than what's going on in front of me. Because of this I don't usually drive anymore, but sometimes I have to to get to my endless appointments. If I see a hairy situation on the road, I freak out. If I see the aftermath of an accident or hear about a crash on the radio, I freak out. I haven't slept a night since the accident and feel like I'm completely losing my mind. I also feel pathetic because I mean, my accident comparatively was not as bad as yours all were. I keep feeling like I don't deserve to get help because I don't deserve to be in the PTSD club, if you will.
 
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