Sufferer New; Car Accident Trauma

[carnivalization]

Hello everyone. First off, I'd like to say that I've been lurking on this forum since shortly after my trauma, and I'd like to thank you all for all of the great advice and wisdom that's here. It's helped me a lot in a dark time, and I decided today to formally join.

I'm a 21 year old college student, and almost a year ago now I was returning from class when I was struck by a car while I was walking in a crosswalk. I was very lucky, since my injuries weren't life-threatening, but my emotional injuries have had much longer and deeper reaching consequences. Luckily our campus offers free counseling, which I've been going to fairly regularly and has been helping me at least function.

My injuries are pretty much healed now, but I still have extreme anxiety related to cars and suffer fairly regularly from nightmares and night terrors. But what I've had the most difficulty with is support, since my friends I had at the time didn't understand what I was going through at all, to the point of accusing me of faking my injuries and the emotional strife I was going through. Needless to say, I'm not friends with these people anymore, but it's still very lonely to deal with alone, especially since their reactions have made me very reluctant to reach out to others. So I'm hoping to find some support and healing here. So hello again, and thank you for reading this.

 

[Shellbell]

Hi there,

Welcome to the PTSD Forum :)

I'm sorry you went through this and your friends don't understand. I know how that feels.

There are lots of lovely, understanding people here though, and it's a very supportive place.

I'm glad you reached out on here :)

Shellbell

 

[Pencil]

Welcome! You will definitely find support and healing here.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Take your time looking around and post as and when you are able. I hope the information and support will help you on your healing journey.

 

[carnivalization]

Thank you all very much for the welcome. :) I'm already feeling quite grateful that I decided to reach outside of my normal comfort zone.

 

[AS1975]

Hi mate, you aren't alone anymore, at least not on here.

We've pretty much all had to deal with strange looks, well meaning imbeciles suggesting "why don't you just..." - harden up, move on, toughen up, get a grip, stop being a sook, etc. (choose one or more). It isn't that easy and it really doesn't work like that, your mind is telling you that any car is potentially dangerous, every roadway a potential deathtrap, all kinds of situations are potentially deadly. Just ignoring it is horrible and frustrating as hell, you can for a while, but it will get you and that might just be the lowest point of your life. Get treatment, get help and get support, that is what I've done and I regret the years (decades in fact) I wasted before I did so.

Welcome to the forum

AS

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to the PTSD Forum! :)

 

[swedelady13]

There are so many of us that have been traumatized by car accidents, but where are the support groups for us? I live near Chicago.