Hi
I'm new! What an interesting forum!!
I live in the Uk and 13 years ago my then boyfriend and I were involved in a serious train crash in the US. we got out with no physical injuries but it did take a long time to 'get over' - if you ever do. It was a terrible accident which seemed to involve every worse case scenario you could imagine - it happened at night, the train ended up in a river and on fire and we had to wait 3 hours in the middle of nowhere to be rescued.
I feel 'ok' now and live a 'normal' life most of the time:crazy-eye but i would be very interested to know if anyone else suffers from accute anxiety as a result of a traumatic accident / event? i think this is the main issue i still have:wall: (I did have counselling directly after the event and covered all the usual ... guilt, fear etc .. but this seems to be one symptom that won't go away!
Basically I have an inability to rationalise events involving people i love / care about. My main problem is with my husband! If he is late home, or if i am unsure where he is i am overcome with irrational panic that he must be dead. i am so convinced that something terrible must have happened that i have to force myself not to panic. i've been pacing round the house in sheer terror if i can't get hold of him and i know its totally irrational. one of my worst moments was when we were on holiday. he'd woken up early and fancied a run around the lake we were staying next to. i woke up to find him not there - convinced myself he must have slept walked and drowned - by the time he returned (barely 20 mins later) i was beside myself. Most people would feel mild irritation if their partner was a little late home - i'm simply overcome with fear and panic!
i can also feel the same way about friends, family etc. if a friend is late i'm convinced they are dead or seriously injured on route. when my dad had a recurring mouth ulcer i convinced myself he had cancer and would die ... the list goes on! I think the absolute worst about every situation.
i'd really like to know if anyone has any 'strategies' for overcoming this behaviour. its not taking over my life or anything (except on the days i'm sure everyones died!!) but on a serious note i am thinking of the future and know that i would be unable to cope with having a family until i knew i could control my panic - i'd just be a nightmare mother and would never ever let my children out anywhere without freaking out - which obviously would not be good!:redface:
anyway - sorry for the long intro - it would be great to get some other thoughts / experiences on this :crazy-eye
I'm new! What an interesting forum!!
I live in the Uk and 13 years ago my then boyfriend and I were involved in a serious train crash in the US. we got out with no physical injuries but it did take a long time to 'get over' - if you ever do. It was a terrible accident which seemed to involve every worse case scenario you could imagine - it happened at night, the train ended up in a river and on fire and we had to wait 3 hours in the middle of nowhere to be rescued.
I feel 'ok' now and live a 'normal' life most of the time:crazy-eye but i would be very interested to know if anyone else suffers from accute anxiety as a result of a traumatic accident / event? i think this is the main issue i still have:wall: (I did have counselling directly after the event and covered all the usual ... guilt, fear etc .. but this seems to be one symptom that won't go away!
Basically I have an inability to rationalise events involving people i love / care about. My main problem is with my husband! If he is late home, or if i am unsure where he is i am overcome with irrational panic that he must be dead. i am so convinced that something terrible must have happened that i have to force myself not to panic. i've been pacing round the house in sheer terror if i can't get hold of him and i know its totally irrational. one of my worst moments was when we were on holiday. he'd woken up early and fancied a run around the lake we were staying next to. i woke up to find him not there - convinced myself he must have slept walked and drowned - by the time he returned (barely 20 mins later) i was beside myself. Most people would feel mild irritation if their partner was a little late home - i'm simply overcome with fear and panic!
i can also feel the same way about friends, family etc. if a friend is late i'm convinced they are dead or seriously injured on route. when my dad had a recurring mouth ulcer i convinced myself he had cancer and would die ... the list goes on! I think the absolute worst about every situation.
i'd really like to know if anyone has any 'strategies' for overcoming this behaviour. its not taking over my life or anything (except on the days i'm sure everyones died!!) but on a serious note i am thinking of the future and know that i would be unable to cope with having a family until i knew i could control my panic - i'd just be a nightmare mother and would never ever let my children out anywhere without freaking out - which obviously would not be good!:redface:
anyway - sorry for the long intro - it would be great to get some other thoughts / experiences on this :crazy-eye