Guys i had an almost fatal accident back in October. I was fine and got back on hwy the very third day… after getting the police report .. i finally started thinking what really happened.. So anyway I dont think I could have done anything about the first part.. but the second half part I completely froze. I literally sat there and did nothing. I didnt know what was going on .. more like in a state of shock and completely gave up on life.. okay i feel like a coward thinking how easily I quit. The car stopped ON ITS OWN when the engine died!
So then i started reading online how to calm my nerves down and how to react in such situations. I came across all these stories where people were talking about phobias of 18 wheelers and whatnot. After taking the stupid defensive driving class, I came to know about the stuff that i had never thought before.. so my fear of driving on hwys has gone sky high.
I drive on the same hwy every single day sometimes twice a day.. I have to pass that accident site and see the tyre marks and collision marks on concrete walls every time I go there..
I couldnt pay attention to class today at all.. was getting super anxious just wanted to get over the emrging to the hwy part asap..
I am hating this feeling… no matter how much i tried to calm myself down .. i end up gettign sweaty palms .. my legs start shaking and I feel like throwing up.. I even tried to reach uni early in the mornings like around 5 am but then I m not comfortable with dark either, and also developed this stupid fear of unknown u know when roads are turning you cant see beyond some point.
I was also helping my sis with driving. I stopped that too. The thought of her driving on hwy is killing me already.
I do not want to have an accidental death and I know if im not driving with confidence anything could happen. I was a brave driver before but now I just feel people would run into my car or I would do this to them and then panic and end up dying.
**say du'aa before you sit behind the wheels and then tell yourself: "Sana, i CAN do it! i just need to FOCUS and RELAX...i'm better than 100 other driver. i CAN do it!' :)
do NOT stare at road or worry about your surroundings. you just need to SCAN the traffic around you at regular intervals so you are aware of the position of your car in relation to other vehicles.**
im reading Ayat ul Kursi constantly
.. and i used to be aware of my surroundings before.. noww I feel If I start worrying about the vehicles next to me.. someone infront of me would change lanes and i would end up hitting them.
Yikes! Glad you're okay. Try reading a small prayer before you start driving. I would have thought the defensive driving class would have helped you. Also stop reading stuff online about bad things, because all it will do is scare you more. You've been driving for a while and yes, the trauma is there, but it will wear off. The worst thing you can do is let the fear overcome you, because that's what fear does if you let it. Stay strong and keep at it. Don't change your routine. Be stronger than the fear, and you will conquer it! Hope things get better for you.
im reading Ayat ul Kursi constantly
.. and i used to be aware of my surroundings before.. noww I feel If I start worrying about the vehicles next to me.. someone infront of me would change lanes and i would end up hitting them.
**you don't have to recite ayat ul Kurisii constantly...may be that's taking your attention away...you just recite du'aa e safar once before you start your car...you may say vazaaif in a non ceremonial way...casually saying, bismillah, la ilaha illallah etc.
you got to relax...don't be tensed. you don't have to stare at the car in front of you...you just keep scanning your surroundings periodically...and that's it! :) Good Luck!!! :)**
Well Sana glad to hear you are fine Alhamdulli'lah!. Accidents happen and good thing you are doing is learning defensive driving technique.
I would like to suggest this eh!. Have your sister, dad or mom be driving and you sit right beside them. And drive by the same highway if you can. Also..stay in centre lane always when you drive by yourself. You be fine Insha'allah!. Wish ya all the best.
Yikes! Glad you're okay. Try reading a small prayer before you start driving. I would have thought the defensive driving class would have helped you. Also stop reading stuff online about bad things, because all it will do is scare you more. You've been driving for a while and yes, the trauma is there, but it will wear off. The worst thing you can do is let the fear overcome you, because that's what fear does if you let it. Stay strong and keep at it. Don't change your routine. Be stronger than the fear, and you will conquer it! Hope things get better for you.
I know i was so excited to take it.. i guess ignorance is bliss sometimes.they should really customize the course accrodign to indiviuals situations and make it less grapic.
This I dont wanna do! I dont think my sister is safe with me on hwys God forbid had I had any passengers in my car, they would have been killed as the passenger door got pushed in and backseat door came open.
and I said DDC didnt help me.. it was rainign today and all I was thinking was Hydroplaning!!
@ Khalil Sahab thankyou so much for the reply.. im hanging in there.. I was also thinking to get blindspots mirrors fixed in my car.
I think you should see some sort of a professional counselor/psychologist (the medical people will correct me on the right term to use). This cannot be done through this forum, in my opinion.
God forbid had I had any passengers in my car, they would have been killed as the passenger door got pushed in and backseat door came open.