Car Attack????

[Bill Dickerson]

A couple of times recently I seemed to have imagined something striking the car. My first thought is someone is shooting at me. I get an adrenaline rush and I scan the area for threats.

The first time my 20 year old son was with me and I was checking a bad area for a car one of nephews wanted to repo. I observed a car come up behind my truck and my antenna went up. I heard and felt a distinct metallic thud/ping from the rear of my truck. My son never said anything so I assumed it was my imagination or a large acorn or something had hit the truck.

The second time was this last weekend and I was by myself. I was in a nice neighborhood but it was late and I saw a fellow walking his dog. I was thinking he might call the cops since I'm cruising the neighborhood. I hear and feel an even more distinct thud/ping on my drivers door. I jumped of course and I said to myself it might have been an egg since it's Halloween. Maybe a bird or bat.

A little while later since I don't want egg all over the paint I stop to check. Walked all the way around the truck with a flashlight and the dirt was even disturbed. I'm getting spooked now.

I've had knives and guns pointed at me and I've come close to shooting a few fellows but no one has ever shot at me.

This is new. Is this my mind or just a coincidence. A stress reaction? Anybody else have this happen to them or is this just my own personal quirk.

 

[stuff]

I don't know, but it's horse chestnut season were I live, and every time one of those suckers hits the roof of my car I nearly have a heart attack!

 

[Lucille]

my PTSD isn't from war, but I often feel like I'm in a war zone. I invent threats that aren't there. When loud noises or other startling things happen (like a rock or a leaf hitting my windshield), my subconscious makes me think it's a threat. I often imagine cars are swerving towards me, even if I know they aren't. I see the wreck (the one that isn't actually happening) flash before my eyes.

I'm also afraid to drive with the windows down after this one time when a huge bug flew in through the window and got stuck in my car. I swerved the car when it flew in front of my face and was half a second away from running off the road. But even after it landed, I felt like the bug was going to attack me. I was actually cowering away from it... so I had to pull over and get it out.

overall, I'm starting to realize that I am more likely to have a wreck if I keep thinking like this or reacting like this.

as for thinking that people are going to attack my car, that isn't so much my fear. but i often times fear that people will break in and attack me in my house when I hear creaking noises or car horns....

 

[maddog]

Hi Bill. How frustrating/unsettling for you. I think many of us can relate to that horrible feeling of inner argument about whether or not something really happened or was really there. The line between an exaggerated startle response and the created belief that something threatening/dangerous really did happen is pretty fine in my experience.

I think that the best you can do is exactly what you did - reality test the situation and search for evidence, such as any markings on your car or any other debris. In the absence of any, it is probably wise to conclude that no such attack happened, and to try to remind yourself of the lack of evidence whenever your anxiety or worry about the incident kicks in.

Maddog