MVA Anyone Else Been In A Car Accident?

[politelypink]

I'm not to sure if this is the correct place to post this. I have PTSD due to a car accident and just can't get over it. I think about it constantly. I have a hard time watching tv because so many tv shows have accidents in them. My husband and I used to watch NASCAR (yes, redneck, I know!) but I can't watch anymore since the wrecks give me anxiety attacks. I just feel like I'm constantly waiting for a vehice to crash into when I'm driving. Since the accident happened when my twins were just 4 weeks old, I feel that is ruined their first year. I can't be the parent I want to be because of constant appointments, stress, and guilt since I was the one driving. I know it was the other drivers fault (she blew through a stop sign), but I still feel like I should have done something different. I'm scared how this will affect working as a nurse when I get back to work. The doc I work for is very understanding, but I don't want to have a panic attack during the middle of assisting during a pap smear or anything! That sure would be a fun experience for a patient.... Any advice or anyone that can relate to me?

 

[Tessa]

Welcome Politelypink,

I am a nurse and I have been in a car accident. I rolled the ambulance I was driving and was left injured in the middle of the outback. It is a long time ago however I still hate accidents and driving and find that whenever I have to deal with an accident as a nurse I am triggered and lose my confidence again. I do not get triggered by nursing duties like Paps bloods etc.

It takes time and I hope your twins are ok. Life is precious and no one has a monopoly on how long it will last. Try to take small steps one at a time and live in the now. It does get better.

I wish you comfort and a feeling of safety.

 

[politelypink]

Thanks. It's nice to see someone that can relate to me ( although wouldn't wish this on anyone). My panic attacks seem to come out of nowhere somedays. I can be fine one minute and feel scared with a pounding heart the next. That's one reason I'm a bit scared about work. I love what I do but I don't think i be able to deal with certain fractures, like femurs. Ill never forget hearing my husband screaming in pain when they reduced it. I used to love helping people with more 'gruesome' injuries because it was a challenge and I found human anatomy and what not so fascinating. I'm just not sure if I can do it anymore. I'm seeing my therapist today and want to discus my return to work. I just feel like such a failure at times and have a hard time with guilt since I was driving. I have so much anger against the other driver since it was her fault completely and she got off her charge. Even though we are laying a lawsuit against her, I still don't feel like she'll ever be punished for all the pain and distraction she did to my family. Sorry, that got a bit long!

 

[Suchafnldy2]

I was in a horrible head on collision on July 1st of last year. I was sitting in the front, my husband (fiance at the time) was driving, and my uncle and cousin were in the back. The other vehicle was totally at fault in our accident too. I was trapped in the car for over an hour before help got there and finally could cut me out. I was in critical condition and they actually red tagged me at the scene.

I was diagnosed with PTSD many years before the accident, but I do know that the accident has caused PTSD to relapse. I had to take Ativan and increase a lot of my meds as well.

The things that trigger me are full moons (when I was trapped in the car the only thing I could see was the full moon so I focused on that instead of the pain), the sound of helicopters is a huge trigger (once they finally got us in the air they could not find a vein to give me pain meds in until we were landing at the hospital. I went two hours with nothing), and driving on a two lane highway where cars are passing really triggers me. When I'm in the car now I am constantly jumpy and think we are going to be hit constantly.

I imagine if I had to go back to work and possibly have to see those same injuries I would probably have a hard time as well.

My husband was not injured in the accident at all but he has expressed feelings of guilt even though he had no control over the situation either.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you a little bit about what happened with us so you would know you are not alone. I am willing to chat in more detail anytime.

Good luck with everything. Sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[KP the nut]

Car crash victim here as well.

My small car was hit by a truck. It will be 3 years next month. The good news is I am managing my symptoms and I'm seeing a lot (apart from the physical restrictions) of the person I was.

 

[Marie10]

I was in a very serious car accident at 15yrs. old. I was taken to the E.R. where the nurse told my parents I was "drunker than a skunk" even though I had nothing to drink. My parents took me home and after 2 hours of begging to go back, now with a distended stomach, not being able to hear and seeing only black and white, my parents took my back to the hospital where in 15 minutes I was in the O.R.

Car accidents are traumatic and going through all the angles in your mind can really beat you up.

I became afraid not right after the accident but years later- I could not make a left turn, go on the highways, etc.
I too cannot watch anything car related especially on the news and at times I cannot avoid it since I love in a big city and see a lot.

What really made it worse and triggered me was in August when I was in a cab on the way to the airport at 4:50 a.m. I saw the after effects on the road, people waiting for an Ambulance, not knowing what to do with the horrible scene. I too was immediately in shock, crying uncontrollably, praying for this person and then BOOM- my accident came right back. I was on the plane and trying to stay calm- anything to keep me from going into a fit.

I'm sorry your in pain. Feel and then try to put it aside a little- not suggesting to forget about it but try not to muddle too much into it everyday. Do what feels safe and right for you. Maybe, if you can, slowly go back to work to see how you feel and take baby steps. It's hard being a parent since I know as well that the year goes by fast but know your a caring, wonderful person. Again, little by little take care of yourself (like posting) and by taking it slow you will begin to put the car accident in a different perspective or how do I say this? Be able to rebuild from this trauma. Wishing you all the best!

 

[Marie10]

Something helpful that I just remembered- maybe try getting some ambient music to play in your car. Music can trigger me too and so can driving. I went to a local music store and asked for help, I even described why I needed it and this person was very helpful in showing me some great music. I bought the CD's and it really helps to calm me down in my car.

 

[lorrieleekelley]

It will be 8 years ago on October 29th that I was involved in a near fatal car accident. My daughter was with me and got thrown to the back of the van, she had a concussion. I went through the windshield and was thought to be DOA when paramedics arrived. I was airlifted to a hospital where I spent the next 3 weeks recovering. Right now is a horrible time for me, even after 8 years! Helicopters, guys in fluorescent vests directing traffic are huge triggers for me. And my only memories of the accident.

I guess what I really want to say is...8 years and I still can't get over it?? Any words of wisdom? There are NO therapists in my area that have a clue how to deal with someone with non-combat PTSD, believe me I have tried very hard to find one.

 

[cherryblossom]

@lorrieleekelley Just because you can't find someone who specialises in non-combat PTSD doesn't mean that you couldn't find a therapist who could help you. The specialisms that I think could help you would be CBT ([DLMURL="https://www.myptsd.com/c/articles/cognitive-behavioral-therapy.19/"]Cognitive behavioural therapy[/DLMURL]), and [DLMURL="https://www.myptsd.com/c/articles/exposure-therapy.20/"]exposure therapy[/DLMURL]. Check out the links for more details on both of these. I don't think this will just get better without some sort of therapy.

However, you could also see if there are any self help books that you might find useful, such as 'I Can't Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors', by Aphrodite T. Matsakis PhD .

 

[trappedinlife]

Hi new to this site, I was in a serious car accident two years ago at a very young age. I couldn't walk for a year and almost lost my leg. I have had ptsd for two years now. I'm on meds and they are sort of helping, I'm trying the exposure therapy and still sort of helping. I feel as if I am afraid of everything in life, buses public places, trains plains just leaving the house some days is hard. I can't ever be left alone or I have panic attacks. I'm just waiting for the day I wake up and return to normal but I don't think that's ever going to happen. Everything I used to enjoy it life I dislike now and I feel as if I'm missing out on so much.

 

[Notsowild]

I had a serious car accident coming home from holidays this summer. After about 2 weeks of recuperating I started getting flashbacks of the accident. I could not watch TV especially the news. I've had trouble driving and being a passenger in a car is worse
I'm still trying to see a trauma specialist. It's hard... I can definetly relate @politelypink Maybe we can take this journey together

 

[kayoatea]

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 was coming home from high school on Wednesday, I was actually going to pick up my sisters and their friend from school. If it was 10 minutes later I would have had my little sisters and their friend in the car. I was a light away from their school, I was stopped at a light in my Honda pilot and a F350 came plowing down this hill and rammed into me at about 45mph and wrecked me and my car. The truck was so big it went over my car's bumper and made a mold of the trucks front in my rear seating/back row. I saw the truck coming as well, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was like slow motion, I looked into my rear mirror and watched it happen–I don't think I've ever felt so helpless before then. I just remember thinking why isn't this person slowing down, why aren't they slowing down, and then I realize I'm about to be hit. I remember tensing up waiting for impact while watching the mirror w, then bam. My back windshield shatters into little pieces flying up three rows of seats and hitting me in cab. My right arm goes flying and I think it hit the sun-shield on the passengers side and remember I'm driving a SUV, so my arm somehow ended up on the other side hitting something (I believe this motion caused the problems I am getting from it today). My neck was a little sore when I got out, but I wasn't really focused on pain because of the whole being hit by a giant truck thing. So we deal with all of that...

The next day I am super stiff, but we thought it was regular whiplash, we soon find out that I have disc bulges on L5-S1 (lower back) but no skeletal damage on my neck. But what basically happened was I pulled every muscle in my neck all the way down to my low back. I also ended up with a bone contusion on my left knee, it hit the driving consul; I couldn't walk for a couple months. Couldn't go to any of my senior activities in high school. My low back pain is not as nearly as bad as it was but I still have to sleep with a pillow between my legs, I can't do any heavy impact physical activity, and I still can't sit for very long. My neck and shoulder have only just gotten worse, its a constant 6-8 pain all the time. I get horrible headaches which never seem to go away too, my neck and upper back muscles are hard as rock and have shown no improvement... I have tried every therapy, the only thing that I get relief from was heavy narcotics (but 17 and addicted to pain killers was not my game plan) deep tissue massages, and trigger point injections. I did physical therapy for about a year still haven't gotten the results I want, so I've tried to move on with my life. But my doctors are re-diagnosing my shoulder to a torn rotator cuff so thats gunna be fun. What a fun summer I have awaiting for me... That's the medical side to my story...

When ever I see cars, first thing I see is them crashing. When I'm sitting passenger seat I am really tense and am really anxious. I'm just always waiting to get hit, whether rear-ended or us plowing into people, no matter what. I had no problem driving again right after the accident, after two weeks I was back behind the wheel driving, but I was a little scared but not tremendously. What's made me really got me thinking about PTSD again is that I am home from college for spring break and I am driving and I am just so anxious, anticipating a crash. I am just scared...
I'm not sure if I have PTSD, I think its has two parts the accident and from being in pain for so long. Its been a year and I am still in a great amount of pain. I've tried to move on with my life, I was definitely depressed or in a funk for the first 4 months though, I've lost interest in things I love.... I just don't know what to do, because I'm away from home in a different state without my family for college. The pain definitely gets worse when I'm stressed.

Anyone have comments about me? Tell me its gunna get better....