Is this normal? I got into a car crash, and now, even when I'm in the passenger seat I feel scared if...?

Question

I look to my side, or at anything but the road. I feel like the car is going to crash if i turn around to look at the moon or look at a mountain or something. It's hard to talk on the phone and I don't really do it unless I absolutely have to. When I got into my crash, it was because I wasn't looking, and now my eyes are practically frozen on the road whether i'm driving or not.

It's really really hard to explain the sensation, but I get anxious and my heart beats faster when I'm not looking straight ahead at the traffic and stoplights and all. I feel like I'm the driver, and by me not looking I'm going to cause the car to get totaled again or something.

I try not to think that way, but it doesn't work.

I just want to know if it is normal, is it?

Answer 1

yeah...same thing happened to me...its gonna help u be a better driver overall,and u will loosen up eventually.

Answer 2

Yes this is quite normal I had an accident last year and it has made me more nervous as both a driver and a passenger. If I am driving along a main road and someone comes to a junction on a side road a bit quick, sometimes I panic and ease off as I am worried they wont stop in time.  I am hoping this will soon pass.

Answer 3

it is very normal

Answer 4

I was rear ended a few years back which pretty much destroyed my  car.  When I started driving again, I was nervous and hyped when ever I drove.   I was real paranoid  I would get hit again. I would find myself constantly  bracing myself and always checking the rear view mirror. Too me it was like many after shocks and with time, the shocks became further and further apart until I felt I was again my almost normal driving self.  It took me over a year to recover and  thank  god I didn't cause any accidents while I was in that frigid state of mind.  Anyway, that's how I felt, maybe my experience can help you with yours.  God Bless

Answer 5

i got into a car accident with my friend in january. i was the passenger but now everytime i drive with him i still get that jolt of fear when he goes too fast or does something that i dont like. I believe that its normal to do that.

Answer 6

yea thaats just shock u'll get over it sooner or later same thing happened to me when i wrecked four wheeler you'll get over it pretty soon

Answer 7

My guess is you may have what they call Post Traumatic Stress.

Answer 8

Yeah it is your just suffering from the Shock of the crash it happens with everyone

Answer 9

Yes it's normal. My car was rear ended while I was waiting to make a left turn a few weeks ago and for a while, I felt like I was afraid that I would get hit again, and especially whenever I had to wait to make a left turn. It's gotten better over the weeks.

Answer 10

It is important to keep this in mind, and not jump to the conclusion that you are having anxiety every time you feel nervous or stressed, even when you are driving in heavy traffic. In certain traffic or driving situations, some fear and even anxiety may be justified.

But the physical and emotional symptoms of real anxiety while driving are always much more severe than just nervousness. There is always a physical and/or emotional reaction to the driving involved in the fear and tension experienced.

In most situations, just getting off the road for a while will help settle down. This works so well because it pulls you out of the cognitive "loop" of obsessive thinking that accompanies most anxiety attacks.

But it is important that you "get back on the horse," and drive again after the attack has faded. The last thing you want to do is build up the experience into a bigger deal than it actually is, and give the fear a "life of it's own."

There is a specific issue that I see in my coaching clients time and time again that creates (or at least aggravates) panic attacks like these. It is something I call, "not having permission to fail," and here's how it works:

In order to take the "energy" out of the panic attacks while driving, you need to have "permission to fail." It needs to be completely OK with you (and people around you) if you begin to feel uncomfortable and want to pull over or stop driving at any given moment. The reason is, when people are 'allowed" to fail at something, and they don't attach any significant meaning to it, they tend to fail MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY than people who feel this underlying pressure that they "have to get it right."

This means you must give yourself "permission" to stop, start, slow down, pull over, or anything else that you feel, WITHOUT putting any pressure on yourself. It has to be all good, no matter what you do. When you get the hang of this attitude, the "energy" of the panic and anxiety dissipates to a great extent, and then you can truly begin to make progress.

Answer 11

put your adult panties on and grow up........

Answer 12

yes thatv happened to me for a while don't worry you will get over it you'll eventually forget