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i get very nervous of cars when i'm in them....?

i was in a car accident a few weeks ago and sinse then i have become the worst passenger ever. i panic if the car i'm in gets too close to another or goes too fast . i didn't expect to get as nervous as i do as the accident i was in wasn't particularly bad..

the problem is more annoying than anything. just wanted to know if anyone had any ideas on how to get rid of this problem.

any help would be awesome!!

13 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    In 97 I was in a head on car crash that landed me in the hospital for 8 months and I almost died. Needless to say, I was terrified of getting back in a car because I was not driving when I had the accident, I was the passenger. I didn't drive for almost 4 years and was a terrible passenger too. I just finally decided that I couldn't continue to rely on others for transportation anymore so I started out slowly, just driving around the neighborhood and now I'm driving regularly again. I still don't drive in certain places like downtown traffic, etc. but I've come a long way. I think time will take care of your fear. Good luck and be careful out there. If I can overcome my fear, you can too!

  • 1 decade ago

    Hi there. I can totally relate to you and your situation. I hope your recovery does not take too long?!

    I was involved in a car accident and it was horrific, lucky I was that day, lady luck was on my side! But I still have visions of the car accident, and this will be more peaceful over time, but time is the essence here. I too am a nervous passenger in a car, when I am driving - I am fine, but I am such an annoying passenger - complaining etc, thinking I am the best driver in the world?!

    Confidence, spirit and above all believe that you will overcome this problem, and after time the situation will ease!

  • 1 decade ago

    I can understand the problem. I'm a nervous passenger even though I've never been involved in an accident. I find travelling in the front seat worse than the back. Start off with short journeys on quiet roads and make sure that whoever is driving you fully empathizes with your fear.

  • 1 decade ago

    You can't avoid cars all your life

    so get inside of one, preferably on the back seat, put on a seat belt, and hold the seat in front of you if your scared (brace position?), then you should survive most accidents that can happen, and if you are sure that nothing bad can happen to you even if you do get into an accident, you will not be afraid anymore, and plus, if you get into cars often enough, you fear will go away by itself

    same in if you can swim you not as afraid of boats, and if you can fall of a bike its not scary anymore.

    best thing is to know the driver, trust the driver, and maybe tell him to be more careful, drive slower, and you can always try driving yourself

    hope this helps

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  • Ida T
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    I am a horrible passenger as well. My husband gets so aggravated at me. There are times I hold on to the seat, and I will use my feet to push brakes that are not there. A car accident would make me worse.

    It's perfectly normal what you're feeling. Just take short trips for a while until you get a hold of your nerves.

  • 1 decade ago

    A few weeks ago? I think this is a normal reaction. Give it some time. If you still have panic and anxiety after a few months, then you might need to see someone about this. You said it was more annoying than anything else. Remind yourself of that, "Gee, this is really a drag, but it is not terrible. I can handle it." See what happens.

  • 1 decade ago

    Don't expect that feeling to go away any time soon, that happened to me and I still have much trouble riding in cars, driving them I do OK but riding in them scares me greatly, still after 10 years. It is called post traumatic stress, but don't be surprised if the stress never goes away. I was killed and had every other bone in my body broken in the crash I was in, there was nothing accidental about it! I think the worse you were injured determines how long the stress will last, In my case I don't think I will ever get over it completely!

  • 1 decade ago

    I had a similar problem, accident's Ive been in havent exactly been life threatening but still, I just kept my mouth shut even tho I was pretty nervous inside and after a while I got back to normal

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Ride Sally, Ride.

  • 1 decade ago

    cant help you but i also get nervous in cars as i always think someone will run a red light and crash into me

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