Frightened And Emotional After Accident

[peason77]

On Friday I was travelling on the inside lane of the motorway. I was travelling at approx 60mph as I was getting ready to exit at the junction I get off at. When suddenly I was aware of a blue lorry on the middle lane. All I remember is he indicated to come into my lane, but I didn't have a chance to move and he went straight into me and spun me across the three lanes of the motorway and I smashed into the central reservation then rebounded back over the 3 lanes up the embankment. Someone was looking out for me because all I did was smash the side of my head and cheek on my window and pulled my muscles on the left side of my body and bruised myself where the seatbelt pulled. Paramedics and police were great, and thankfully no one else was hurt. I've been resting since, but today I'm tearful and I keep seeing the blue of the lorry by my side and the cars coming towards me as I spun across the lanes. It's true what they say. I did see my life before me, more specifically my daughter. My car is a write off. I was ok until this morning where I'm tearful and panicky. I'm a single mum and I keep being told not to let her see if im anxious or upset, but I'm finding it hard. My mum is lending me her car to take my daughter to school tomorrow , but I'm frightened of getting into the car but I can't tell anyone that because I'm a mum and that's what I'm expected to do. I'm a grown up, working mother and I can't let people see I'm not coping, and my mum will get angry if she sees me not coping. I was ok yesterday , so what's so wrong with me today ? I feel such a fraud any advice welcome pleasexxx

[ummmm]

It's trauma. The shock has worn off now. Let yourself feel how you need to feel. Maybe fib to your daughter and say you're in pain so she does develop a fear of cars.

[Sqad]

Sounds like ...."delayed shock".

It would happen to most people.

Advice will differ i expect but if it were me and had fallen off a horse, I would get straight back on it again.

Use your Mum's car tomorrow and see how you feel.

[peason77]

Thank you kindly for your answers. I feel like I'm going mad this morning yet I was reasonably ok yesterday. I will reluctantly get into the car but I realise I need to do it. I just don't want people to think I'm over reacting! Xx

[ummmm]

You're not over reacting. It sounds horrendous.

[Prudie]

Sounds completely normal and if it happened to me in your situation I'd expect my mum or a friend to sit in with me at least the first time I drove again. Can't believe your mum would be cross. Sometimes it takes people ages to have the confidence to drive again after an accident.

[TWR]

Pea, it's not a good position to be in & I feel for you, we all at times make mistakes but mistakes with HGVs it's not nice, I can not be in judgment to what had happened to you, obviously the HGV was out of order but the maun thing you are here to tell the story, put it down to experience just get into the car and just get on with your life,Take Care xx

[woofgang]

If your mum gets angry because she sees you not coping, Imo she’s not much of a Mum.....although maybe she is scared too and being cross is her way of coping? I don’t think hiding feelings is helpful for your daughter either...better to be honest with her and say that yesterday was scarey but you are safe now and its ok to feel scared because none of us can control how we feel, but we still have to get on with life and not let being scared rule our lives. I have been in two car accidents, neither my fault, and you are not over reacting at all. I agree with Sqad and I would get back in the car and drive because its easy to build these things up in your mind. take your time, allow yourself extra time for the journey and I am sure you will be fine.

[Svejk]

Don't blame you. Most of us get 'jittery' after a near miss. Must have been awful. Give it time, I would say.

[Maydup]

Gentle ((( hugs ))) Peas. If you had been hurt physically you would be receiving more support and attention than you are now, but the shock and trauma is no less and the way you are feeling today is perfectly normal.

Considering what you went through, you are doing really well. I suggest a really easy day today and an early start in the morning. Set off a bit earlier and take your time in your Mum's car. Better still ask her to pop over and run your daughter to school just this once. You need a bit longer to recouperate. Besides its not easy driving a strange car at the best of times.

Then have a little quiet drive on your own away from rush hour and maybe collect your daughter from school later on.

I hope you feel better soon, but do allow yourself this time to get there.

[Old_Geezer]

Skimming the answers here I have nothing much to add save to agree you seem to be reacting much as one should expect, and getting back to driving as soon as you can will help avoid it being a long term issue. Good luck, and take it easy/gradually.

[peason77]

Thank you kindly for your answers, you all have reassured me that I'm not going mad ! I realise I need to take time and not put pressure on myself. Once again , thank you all for taking the time to answer my question ❤️

[horselady]

I had a car accident a few years ago and was just the same as you for a while. The first time I drove afterwards I was very nervous, but I was OK and you will be too.