Plus another thing I do, whenever my heart starts racing during times where my anxiety is acting up (which happens more often than Id like), is taking a few minutes and slowly counting out loud until reaching ten which seems to calm me most of the time. I walked away with a concussion and a bunch of bruises. Slowly and deliberately, tense the muscles in your foot and hold as you count to 10. We had just pulled into the fast lane to over take when we were hit from behind by a speeding driver that wasnt paying attention. Part of being anxious or angry is having irrational thoughts that dont necessarily make sense. Today I hit a parked car turning into my work parking lot. But please kindly remind that brain of yours how freaking awesome you were out there in the midst of danger. We all have goals which drive us forward during those times where we feel weak and when were too tired to keep goingbut its important not to forget about all those other things which make us feel happy either because you deserve some fun every now again! Remove yourself from that environment as soon as possible and go outside even if its just for a few minutes. Once you acknowledge them, try to let them go. But the mental part is so bad. Try nibbling on some dark chocolate. I hit the city light poll, my airbags deployed all around the car and I had a significant car accident in which I totaled my Infiniti FX 35. It can be really hard when were trying our best yet nothing seems to workbut instead of constantly pushing yourself even harder try taking a step back, closing your eyes for a minute, and just letting the world take over because there will always come a time where things start looking up again Plus remember whatever might seem like the biggest deal today probably wont matter in five years from now but if something does appear important enough then keep working towards it until youve successfully made your dreams into reality. 6 4. None of those affected me like this. Ms. Ward specializes in treating stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have started using it with EMDR. Koch SC, et al. First a 250 gal water tank. Life is awful at times. When youre anxious or angry, it can feel like every muscle in your body is tense (and they probably are). Dehorty says this sends a message to your brain, causing a positive feedback loop reinforcing your fight-or-flight response. I cant handle bumper to bumper traffic, I am constantly staring into the rear view mirror in anticipation of another collision, and all my fears and anxieties from the first accident has meshed with the second and are now blended. Take a Mental Break. Play with your pets, cook, drink a cup of tea, or even clean. Since then, my nightmares have finally stopped and Ive successfully been a passenger for short trips with other drivers, but still dont feel like I can drive. Quality time with a pet can also help you feel less alone and boost your overall mood. I hope Im not developing a phobia. I saw the photos of my the next day and cried. But, they also have the ability to control us if we slip into negative emotions. We couldnt find anything, nothing at all to explain what had happened. We avoid using tertiary references. 7. Use as many senses as you can. Tell yourself that things may not be as bad as you think because you are thinking through stress and anxiety. The first step, obviously, comes with awareness. Let's say the word is 'crash.'. This will help your brain release neurotransmitters that will boost your overall mood. My mom and I were on our way home from getting dinner, and a lady who we believe was under the influence swerved into our lane and hit us. Slowly move up your body, telling yourself to release each part of your body until you get to your head. Any thing any one knows that could help would be appreciated. And suddenly I lose control of my car and I swerve in and out of lanes, spinning and eventually hits the medium on the side of the highway. Some of them I dont know where they got their drivers license, they are very dangerous drivers. I got into a car crash earlier today, friends teaching me how to drive, I put the car in reverse, or so I thought and the car started going backwards, I got scared and accelerated, hit the side of a house. Was turning left off a main road close to my house that I had done many times before. Hopefully your girlfriend takes a supportive attitude towards this, and you do your best on helping her to cover the expenses involved. Sometimes we all just need some fresh air! To do this, you can focus on bringing your shoulder blades together and then down. Im so over this. The second he hit me, I was screaming. I just got into my first accident earlier today and Ive just been so nervous and scared. I feel lost. I dread even getting in a car. And dont forget about these other tips too: limiting caffeine intake (because its known to worsen anxiety symptoms), drinking lots of water, taking your vitamins daily because all these things are major players in keeping our minds & bodies healthy. )It takes you back to a peaceful mind and burn the extra energy. If possible, move the vehicles to the side of the road and turn on . Rebecca holds an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University and an MA in Organizational Leadership from The George Washington University. On the second hit we spun out, off the road into a light post barrier. But I cant drive in these conditions ((I know I can. Benzodiazepine withdrawal may involve nausea, sweating, tremors, and increased anxiety. Choose an image or place that makes you happy. Exercise. To some it may seem minor but to me terrifying. Now, do the same thing with your left foot. All I can remember is, thank God no one was killed behind us. Then 2 sheets of drywall and again, thank God no one was killed. And I had no way to stop , I was going about 40 mph. Anxiety doesnt affect me from it until Im in a situation where a car accident could almost happen. I just had an accident last Monday. We both started to think we had been shot at by an impatient driver. But ever since the car accident my anxiety level went sky high. The next day a CHP officer called me and had me come in to the office to do a photo line up but I wasnt able to identify the guy who hit me. The effect of music on the human stress response. Help them slow their breathing by focusing on slow, deep inhales through . The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as follows: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition thats triggered by a terrifying event. While waiting for a patrol car, we discovered the strap on the drive shaft and figured it out. The driver was calm. It happened so quick. Its important to remember that your body needs oxygen. I hope these suggestions help point you in the right direction. We feel refreshed and ready to take on the stress again. Honestly, it was the scariest moment of my life. Edith, I am so, SO sorry! Help! I was merging into the left lane and the driver speeded up behind me and then the 2nd one I was at a red light and could not stop the car and crashed into a rock while hitting two other drivers. Last Updated: October 30, 2021 I was driving at 70mph on the highway and a truck hit me on my drivers side. Right in front of me! Then 10 days ago, a single cargo strap was left hiding in the truck bed under a few cinder blocks. 7 Ways to Recover From Anxiety After a Car Accident. This article has been viewed 13,426 times. I just want to be able to ride in the car without feeling like Im going to be hit again. References. Only go back to bed when youre beginning to feel tired again and ready for sleep. It wasnt my fault, and yet I feel so bad. Now im scared to drive on that road. I start feeling anxiety as Im getting ready for work, which then causes my neck to start hurting. Talk to them in a calm voice and speak in short sentences. I am afraid it will happen again. I couldnt see out my right eye. It might even help to say something like "I'm okay" or "I'm safe" out loud to yourself. If you find your feelings havent changed significantly within 6 months, I would recommend using any of the recovery suggestion on this page to help you. So scary major anxiety and I cant sleep. The front end of my car ended up underneath the school bus in front of me. Listen to a soothing sound like rain falling or waves crashing. I was in a car accdent 1 year ago and im still scared to be in a car my sis was driving and it was a sports car im sorry that u hate being in a car 2 . {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f4\/Calm-Down-After-a-Stressful-Experience-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Calm-Down-After-a-Stressful-Experience-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f4\/Calm-Down-After-a-Stressful-Experience-Step-2.jpg\/aid7927187-v4-728px-Calm-Down-After-a-Stressful-Experience-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"