Hi everyone,
So sorry to read all of these experiences and really hope that you're all managing to deal with them in your own way. I completely understand and relate to a lot of these situations and feel as though I'm at my wits end with it all.
I think I'm suffering from PTSD following a car accident I had around 2/3months ago now. A lorry side swiped me just as I was about to leave the motorway. My car flipped around onto the front of the lorry and I was pushed approximately 300m before coming to a halt. It's the single most terrifying experience I've ever encountered. Without sounding too dramatic I genuinely thought I was done for. Surprisingly I made it out of there with no lasting damage (some whiplash, back pain and a few other minor injuries) although I had to be cut out of my vehicle, etc and taken to A&E). I received a hire car the following day and forced myself to get back on the horse. I am a student studying physiotherapy and unfortunately had the accident on my first day of clinical placement. I felt as though I couldn't afford to have any time off as the placements only last 6 weeks so I went back after one day.
In hindsight, I definitely returned too early but I think I was just in a state of shock and thankful to still be alive (I appreciate the situation could have been a lot worse). I struggled through my placement and started to notice a change in my behaviour i.e not wanting to go out, low energy, low mood (I just put it down to being tired) but I'm currently nearing the end of my brief summer holiday and there has been no change despite having had a rest. If anything it's gotten worse. I had so much planned over the summer but my mood and anxiety has just ruined everything. I'm often in tears and just want to be alone. Under normal circumstances I don't mind my own company but to feel like this all the time is getting a bit ridiculous. I have told a couple of people but those that I have told have made light of the situation and I think they're unaware of the severity of the situation. I feel like I have no one to talk to. I think part of the reason that I don't want to socialise is because I feel like I have to be 'fake happy' all the time and I really don't have the energy for it. At times, it's affecting my relationship with my partner (he know's none of this) - we have only been together for 6 months and feel that this is a heavy topic to deal with this early on in our relationship. I have severe travel anxiety, only driving when absolutely necessary. I'm about to go on placement again and feel terrible. I'm worried that this is going to interfere with my performance academically. I just cannot think about anything else.
I understand how extremely lucky and fortunate I am to come away from this relatively unscathed but I think this has a lot to do with how I am feeling. I feel as though most of the damage is psychological and because those injuries are unseen its really difficult to express the extent of them. I often feel as though I'm being silly, melodramatic or think that people will see me as seeking attention. This isn't the case at all. I just want to get better.
I have seen my GP and have made a self referral to a Talking Therapy service offered here in the UK. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of Talking Therapy and whether they think it helps? Also whether anyone who has experienced a similar situation had any tips on how to manage this effectively?
S x
