To still feel shaken over car accident?

[Tuhelime]

A car drove into me on Wednesday afternoon. It knocked me off my feet but I have been so lucky. Where it hit me hasn't even bruised, and I've escaped with a sore neck and a battered knee from where I fell. I've been to the hospital and the knee isn't broken or anything, just soft tissue damage. I can't bend it so I'm limping a bit and can't drive, but that's the extent of the damage. I know how lucky I've been.

I can't stop thinking about it, and what would have happened if the car had kept going instead of stopping when it hit me. I got quite weepy about it last night. I went into work yesterday but I've stayed off today, partly to rest my leg and partly because I just feel exhausted and upset. I don't want to mention it anymore to my friends because it's basically a grazed knee so they understandably think I'm going over the top still talking about it now, but I still feel shaken and upset. Is this normal or do I need to get a grip?

Not a bit, you've had a shock physically and emotionally. Give it a few days, it will wear off but your brain and body need to process it. Look after yourself as though convalescing - warm drinks, soothing things, plenty of sleep.

You don't need to get a grip. You need some TLC. Try and rest over the weekend. Take care

You poor thing yadnbu feeling like this. I think the brain has to keep going over things like this to process it

How horrible! But YANBU.

I was wiped out on the M25. Thank GOD it was a quiet time as we were shunted across the fast overtaking lanes into the concrete wall central reservation. It was utterly terrifying but we walked away without a scratch.

About a week later, I was overwhelmed by anger as the emotional shock and the "what ifs" set in. It lasted a few days but I was okay after that.

Give yourself time to process what happened and be kind to yourself

Thats normal. Its only been two days! Give yourself time it was a shock!

No you don’t need to get a grip. That must have been such a shock.

Rest up over the weekend and look after yourself xx

What you are feeling is 100% normal. You've had a horrible shock and it's natural to think of how awful it could have been. Allow yourself to feel anything you need to, and I'm sure you'll be feeling much better very soon.

It is normal to feel like this.
You will probably be “in shock”, your body might be in shock - can you treat yourself kindly and gently, as you would treat a friend in similar circumstances - and rest.
I found just repeatedly talking it through with different friends helped me process things in the days and week after.
Don’t underestimate the potential for other injuries, that might become more apparent - after the initial shock subsides - other aches and pains for example. Don’t be in a hurry to understate your injuries...until you see how it settles down.
I found that no matter how much I tried to relax, it was impossible to stop my brain re-processing it constantly.
Assuming that the accident has been reported and that the driver is identifiable and that you don’t need go report or prove liability...
I was able to contact some sort of central insurance company who divulged the drivers insurers to me - I reported the driver myself to his own insurers (the driver had not made them aware himself)
Your friends that have not been through something similar themselves probably won’t understand how deeply it will be affecting you initially, but still try and gain comfort by keeping your friends around you in the coming days for support, rather than being alone.
It will start to fade, and it will get better.

You poor thing. Delayed shock from physical and mental trauma that’s all it is OP, it will pass but in the meantime take it very easy on yourself. Also explain to friends and loved ones that the accident’s shaken you up badly so you’re a bit fragile, maybe tearful right now and for them to be nice to you. Do lots of lounging about, favorite snacks, lighthearted movies and books.

Unfortunately I think this is one of the ways the mind processes trauma - and anything can trigger it.

A few years ago, I was driving when my elderly neighbour hit the accelerator instead of the brake and shot out of his driveway and into the road in front of him. The impact wasn't actually that bad and neither of us was hurt but my mind replayed it repeatedly, and altering the scenario - what if I'd left 5 seconds earlier / been going a little faster etc etc.

Also witnessed a family member getting bitten by a dog just a month or so ago. Same thing. If you're like me, it'll calm down and you'll stop thinking about it, but it may randomly pop up in the next few weeks.

As PPs have said, be kind to yourself. Rest up but have distractions ready (tv / book).

Absolutely not! Agree with everything above!

Thank you all so much. I think people think I'm going over the top still mentioning it because I went to work and the pub the next day, and it is only a sore leg and neck, but people keep saying it's only a graze and it makes me feel really stupid for being so upset.

Not at all . I had a car run me out of my lane into possible oncoming traffic because he was on the phone. No injuries or anything but if a car had been coming the other way I would have been hit . Took me ages to stop being mad and shook up. I even tried to hunt the driver down

No way! Yadnbu!

I was involved in a car accident years ago where a white van came out of the junction. He was in the lane to turn left, but turned right and drove into the passenger side of my car.

I had soft tissue damage the same as you, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt.

My intrusive thoughts were ridiculous. 'what if my daughter was in the passenger seat. What if either of us were going faster. What if I had left the house 2 minutes later. Etc etc'

My car was a write off and it really shook me up.

I had to have CBT to drive again and even now I will only pootle around locally.

I really feel for you OP and don't think people understand unless it's happened to them.

I was so concerned that I was being over dramatic and that added to my stress.