Thursday, December 18, 2008

I swear I am going to start walking everywhere

My mom was in a car accident tonight. (if you listened to the radio right around rush hour she was the accident on 270, and you can thank her for the traffic) That makes 6 car accidents between me, my mom and brother for this year. She is OK but i think her car is most likely totalled.

I think Mexico is sounding better and better, or at least places with now cars.

I will have to admit that since my accident I have become the most paranoid driver. I thought it would have subsided by now (my accident was 8 months ago) but it hasn't. I'm usually alright until i hit traffic and then i tense up......i really don't know how else to get over it and with this new incident, it doesn't make matters any better. I have avoided the highway and high traffic areas just to get away from it.....

I had a guy last night on the way home ride my ass. These are the people that just make me so mad, and obvioulsy nervous, but we were in traffic. I wasn't going anywhere. So, i moved over to the next lane, and he turned around to give me a look of death. Like i was preventing him from getting someowhere. It is people like this that make it hard to NOT be nervous on the road.

Has anyone had any similar experiences? What alleviated the anxiety?

9 comments:

Jennelle said...

Two and a half years ago, I hit a deer. On the interstate. Head on. Going 75 mph (speed limit is 70). I walked away with bruises, but did $10,000 worth of damage to my car. It was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me, and I couldn't drive anywhere I even remotely thought there might be deer for almost a year. And I only started driving at night through deer country out of necessity; we moved to Pacific and I HAD to drive through Lone Elk Park on 44. I still avoid it at all costs, but I found ways to calm myself down--like driving on pace with a diesel, so that they would block any and all deer who might run out in front of me. :)

Seriously though, driving at night still gives me the heebie jeebies. I've had three deer run out in front of me, and I've seen one get smashed to smithereens by a diesel. But I have to remind myself that there is NOTHING I CAN DO about the deer, I just have to make sure that I'm alert. The feelings will start to subside eventually, I promise!

LC said...

OH no! Is she ok?! That is so scary! I hope that she is doing alright.

Angie said...

When I was a frosh in college I was in a HORRIBLE accident going east on Hwy 40. I was the passenger and we were bouncing back and forth between a SEMI truck and the median near Brentwood Blvd. We both walked away without being hurt amazingly, cause the car was completely destroyed and half it's normal size. From that time on any time I was in the fast lane near a median and any other car was on my right side I would freak. It's like the mental image would trigger the accident again and I would get so nervous. But over time it went away. I think it just takes time. Sorry you've had so many bad experiences with accidents this year, that is very scary! All you can do it drive defensively and try to be safe out there.

LucyinStLou said...

I was in an awful accident my junior year in high school. I did get over it, but it took about a year. And, still, when I go by that intersection (some lady ran a stop sign and plowed into us) I always tense up.

Sarah said...

oh no! i hope your mom is okay.

i was in 2 bad accidents in high school, and i was absolutely nervous about driving for the year following the 2nd crash. i think it just takes time. and don't be afraid to drive like a blind ole granny. take your time, keep your distance from other cars, and always be on the lookout. other than that, there isn't much else you can do, i suppose.
what kind of car do you drive? if it's smaller, maybe you could look into something like a volvo, something that is well known for being extra safe? just for a little added peace of mind.

Sh. said...

I was t-boned on my way to work one morning. I'm a teacher so all of my students saw me sitting on the side of the road dealing with it. And now I pass the same spot every stinkin' day and each day I tense up. But it has gotten easier as time goes on. (Rocking out to my favorite music also helps!)

seberu said...

Like everyone else said, it just takes time. I had an accident in an intersection and it took forever for me not to freak every time I drove through one. So sorry to hear about your Mom, but I'm glad she's alright!

Mary said...

I can't believe you family's luck! I would be uptight about driving too. There are so many people out there that just drive like complete idiiots. It's so hard to not get road rage all the time. I hope your mom is doing okay and that you have an accident-free 2009!

Trisha said...

You can't be any more terrified to drive and paranoid than I am. It started before I even had a license. I got my permit and hid it from my parents, only to tell them I had the the DAY BEFORE I was supposed to start "behind the wheel" with my drivers ed teacher. We went out to the parking lot and that was the first time I had ever drove. I was terrified!

Still to this day I am terrified.

I'm the "target". Getting hit by drivers, deer (they run into me, not me run into me), drunk drivers, etc.

The worst was in '97, and I'm still terrified, almost TWELVE years later. I was driving down the street with my BFF, her 6-month old son, and another friend in the back. Some 16-year-old driver wasn't paying attention and ran a stop sign and I t-boned her. We spun around, had enough time to look at each other and freak out and then we were hit head-on again. I crushed my hand and had to have surgery, broke my nose and ruined my knee for life. BFF broke a few ribs. Baby flipped out of his carseat both times we were hit and other friend got a gash in her chin.

There were other various accidents between those. Then the one TWO DAYS before my wedding where the drunk driver hit me. I'm lucky I wasn't in a wheelchair on my wedding day!!

Yes, I am a VERY TERRIFIED driver, and won't drive when I go to lunch with co-workers, hate driving when I'm with anyone in the car, and just hate driving in general! I wish I could hire someone to drive me around for the rest of my life!