Can’t Go Outside - Any sayings or thoughts that anyone repeats to themselves to feel less scared, or weak, and vulnerable?

[Sophiem121]

Since being hit by a car, I cannot go outside by myself. I just feel so vulnerable, I’m terrified that it will happen again. Just wondering are there any sayings or thoughts that anyone repeats to themselves to feel less scared or weak and vulnerable? Can’t apply to anything please

 

[parrotthepolly]

Can't apply to anything? Does that mean you're simply looking for affirmations around car crashes?

 

[captain jigglypuff]

-edit- I misunderstood what OP was talking about

 

[HomelessJoe]

Your clearly more cautious now. So you are far safer than before. That fear is gonna make you naturally more paranoid of reacurance. The fear will keep you safe to take the next step. Using that fear to keep you safe will make you strong. Don't let fear make you feel weak. Believe in yourself and go outside.
Surviving can mean many things. You survived that car. Now it's time to live with that blessing. Go outside and use your survival and live. My best memories arent sitting inside safely. I'm guess they aren't yours either. Go make some memories.

 

[Friday]

I’m a military brat, and prior service military… where everything terrible & terrifying is not only joked about, but probably has a silly song written about it… I have soooooooo many sayings, moto (motivation), mantras, etc. And when I’m at my worst? Those ARE the things I can still reach for. The shorter? The better. But the shorter ones usually have deep roots in the longer ones.

I’ll list a handful of fairly general short ones, that I use all the durn time, because I’m not sure if the “can’t be anything” is a typo or not (I suspect so? Going to act as if not. But I have a GREAT song if you’re afraid of your parachute not opening. ;)

***

- Improvise, adapt, overcome.

- KISS. (Keep It Simple Stupid).

- Fortune Favors The Bold. AUDENTIS FORTUNA IUVAT

- Action kills fear.

- Rage triumphs over Despair.

- No courage, without fear.

- Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast. Fast is lethal.

- Better. Stronger. Faster. (Again!) Better. Stronger. Faster. (Again!). Better. Stronger. Faster.

- Suck it up.

- Suck it up, buttercup!

- Don’t kill anyone, don’t break anything.

- Tempus Fugit. (Latin : Time flies / Fugitive Time).

- Illegitimi non carborundum (Bad Latin : Don’t let the bastards grind you down).

- I refuse to live in a world where I have to choose. (Response to either myself thinking, or someone else telling me “That’s/Youre either really brave or really stupid.).

- That’s the best bad idea I’ve heard all day!

- Work smarter, not harder.

- If it looks stupid, but it works? It ain’t stupid.

- No one ever drowned in sweat. (Take a shower, problem solved.)

- Time to make today my bitch.

- And lo though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For I am the baddest motherf*cker in the goddamn valley.

- Pain is weakness leaving the body.

- Time doesn’t make things easier. We? Get stronger.

- Panic Attacks : Cardio for lazy people & serious multi-taskers

- If you can talk? You can breathe.

- Ramble on. // Let’s move. // Go Go Go // f*ck it.

- One of these times, Square One, I’m GOING to hire an interior designer. Or file a restraining order.

- Embrace the SUCK.


***

Miscellaneous song lyrics, often by Bob Marley (Every little thing, is going to be alright).

 

[gorgonzola]

Might not quite apply to you, but I'm rather fond of nemo me impune lacessit.

It's the motto of the House of Stuart and of Scotland, and roughly translates as "FAFO". You could try applying that to the universe of motor vehicles in your circumstance if you're ginning yourself up to take on a part of it.

 

[VioletButterfly]

My issue isn't going outside, but it is about making myself do things that I feel very uncomfortable in doing and that I'm often afraid of doing, so I thought what I'm doing to support myself might help you as well. I tell myself the following: I am strong, I am capable, I am talented, I can do hard things and I have done quite a few hard things so I can do this one thing as well, etc.... It's more about affirmations telling me that I "can" rather than I "can't" do a), b), c). I also carry a notebook with relevant affirmations and accompanying drawings that I feel encourage me and are supportive. I usually carry one of my little fuzzy, stuffed friends in my purse as well. Life is a little scary right now, so I need a friend in the sidecar as it were. Maybe you can carry your phone w/ photos and drawings, and the affirmations in the notes? Just some thoughts for you. Take care. VB

 

[SeedMan]

Since being hit by a car, I cannot go outside by myself. I just feel so vulnerable, I’m terrified that it will happen again. Just wondering are there any sayings or thoughts that anyone repeats to themselves to feel less scared or weak and vulnerable? Can’t apply to anything please

Though for different causes, it is hard for me to go outside too. Humming stimulates the ventral vagus nerve - part of the parasympathetic nervous system which helps one calm down. This reminds me I'd better practice what I preach and go for a walk - Hope this helps.

 

[Torch]

Similar to what VB said. Might be helpful to remind yourself of your strengths and keep them in mind.
Thinking in terms of affirmations doesn't do anything for me, but these two things seem to be similar.

 

[interstellar505]

I'm an assault survivor - my ex caused me to be here, believe it or not! Usually when i start to get a flashback, i tell myself "he isn't here." or I try to manipulate myself into thinking it was all a dream. Sometimes, I do physical things, such as tugging on my hair when i get flashbacks, and that just may be trichotillomania.

 

[Dark.Green.Feathers]

I don’t have the same trauma as you but something that’s helped me is to remember when and where (and who?) I am; it’s 2025, things are different now. You can tailor this to any situation and make it specific as you need.

It can be anything relevant; what’s different about you, the person who hit you, where you are, laws, roads, crossings?

For me it’s: I’m in 2025, I’m an adult, I have a safe place to live, and agency over what I do and where I go.

What has also helped me is to take inventory of what I’m in control of, in the situation or life in general, depending on what’s so difficult to cope with

 

[mickbu]

Basic grounding techniques are helpfull to me. Focus on your sensations. Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear, 3 you can smell, 2 you can feel, 1 you can taste. Trust in perception, not projection. Also what really helps me is putting my focus on my feet. How does the ground feel on which I'm standing? Try to imagine you having roots. Feel visceral connection with the world around you. My problem is the carusel can spin until it derails. Anxious thoughs have no purpose but to make you feel more anxious. They have no goal, no endpoint. I cannot counter them with other thoughts. Physical experiences is my best tool to make my body understand that thoughts are not important, theyre just ghosts, echoes of the past.