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Original poster

Trigger warning - animals

11 replies

Sabato · 27/05/2019 14:52

I am having a hard time after witnessing something traumatic yesterday.

I was at the supermarket and I saw somebody’s dog hit and killed by a bus. I don’t want to go into details which may upset others, but suffice to say it was a hideous thing to witness.

The women whose dog it was was so distressed, I don’t know if I will ever be able to get the image of her grief out of my head.

I just can’t stop thinking about it. It was so awful and so sad, and I keep going over and over the memory.

Does anyone have any tips on how to move past this? I’ve been tearful all day at work and I just feel so incredibly stupid for feeling this way. I know I need to get a grip but I don’t know how Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabato · 27/05/2019 15:30

Bump...

OP posts:
Scattyhattie · 27/05/2019 15:36

You witnessed a traumatic event so its not stupid to be affected by that. I'm not sure how to make it any easier to process, but don't give yourself a hard time for caring. Flowers

cheeseislife8 · 27/05/2019 15:40

It's a horrific thing to witness, I'm so sorry. For you and the poor owner Flowers I don't know how to make it easier unfortunately, but hand holding

HolidayHelper · 27/05/2019 15:41

Awww, I'm sorry, that must have been really horrible. How tragic.

I don't really have much advice I'm afraid. I was just going to suggest that if you have any spare funds you could make a donation to a charity that rescues street dogs. Of course it won't be a magical solution to your distress but it may give you a sense of 'His death was not in vain - because of it I am now making life better for others' sort of thing. There's a charity called 'Hope for Paws' (type it into Youtube, they film their rescues, and the main guy Eldad is amazing for the efforts he goes to to save them) that rescues dogs from the streets of LA. I support them when I have any spare funds from doing a car boot or whatever.

Do you have children, and were they with you yesterday?

Original poster
Sabato · 27/05/2019 15:42

Thank you everyone. HolidayHelper that is such a nice idea, I think I will do that.

Luckily no children with me, was on my own.

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UmpetyLumpety · 27/05/2019 15:44

Be kind to yourself, it's a horrid thing to witness. Acknowledge what an awful thing it was and that it very normal and understandable to be upset. Then move on, distract yourself every time it comes back into your head, sing a song, put on the TV, read a book, do the laundry, think of a nice memory, but actively move your thoughts away, don't think of it further, don't dwell. The memory will probably never go away, but it will definitely dim and eventually become nothing more than a rare memory. Sending a virtual hug and some Flowers.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 27/05/2019 15:46

I witnessed a dog run in front of a car years ago - we were two cars behind. It was a horrible thing to see. It was absolutely not the driver’s fault - the dog ran out of a farm track straight under the car wheels. There was no owner around, though. It has been more than 10 years and I’ve never forgotten it. I’m not at all surprised that you are shaken and upset.

Original poster
Sabato · 27/05/2019 15:48

It was similar here, not the bus driver’s fault at all - and he was also terribly upset about it.

Distraction is a good tactic, need to find a comforting favourite book or something to focus on.

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Persimmonn · 27/05/2019 15:50

You saw a living thing die in the worst way, you’re not stupid at all. I’d probably be traumatised too. I’m sure with time you’ll feel better about it, but you did witness something terrible, so be gentle on yourself.

I once saw an old man lose himself and fall head first in Tesco once. I threw my basket and ran to him and stayed until staff and first aid came to help. I left the shop without getting anything and I couldn’t stop trembling for days because I had my ill Dad with Parkinson’s in the car that day and it could’ve been my dad. I know it’s not as bad as what you saw, but our minds react to things that are close to us. The lady crying for her dog could’ve easily been a mother crying for her child.

Flowers hope you feel better about it soon.

GraceMarks · 27/05/2019 15:56

I was upset for days after reading a book where an animal was killed in a horrible way, and that wasn't even real! I just hate it, and now, if I start reading something and I can see it going that way, I will abandon the book straight away. If I saw an animal being killed like that in real life, I'm sure I would feel the same as you did, OP.

Original poster
Sabato · 27/05/2019 17:01

Thank you all for being so kind, I feel a lot less stupid about being so upset.

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