yes. My mother in a terrible car crash. I don't remember it I was 8 at the time and now im 33.
It is something that sticks with you, its not bad but you know things will never be the same. It is a somber note in my life and sobers my hubris when I can't see my end so clearly. Knowing that death is part of the life cycle and then seeing death in the life cycle is transforming. It is supposed to be transforming. Our current culture suppresses this learning due to science and medicine and technology. I have learned not to fear it, I have accepted this inevitability but I choose to appreciate the little things everyday and as I've gotten older I certainly have gotten more spiritual, there are too many things that seem to happen with an eerie predictability and seeing that pattern I fondly refer to as "wisdom growing on me".
I hope your loss, helps you become a stronger and better prepared person in the future, I hope the pain you go through is short and that you reach a happy place again. I like to think that the loss of friends in life is not really a loss because somehow their existence is still affecting decisions your making today and that persistent energy echos through all of us.
Never actually witnessed one as it happened, thankfully. Unless pets count. I have had to watch a couple of those take their last breaths. That was a hard thing to watch. I can't imagine how hard it would be to witness that when it's something like a friend or family member.
Yeah, back in school. Watched a guy jumping to his death from a building while I was in class. The teacher thought I had gone crazy when i started spazzing out.
I haven't and I'm glad for it. Reading All Quiet on the Western Front was quite enough for me. This book should be obligatory for every person on Earth.
Unfortunately, yes. Last summer my friend died in a car accident right in front of my eyes. Shit went down and I still think about it... it was very graphical.
How did it change me? I don't know... I was never the kind of guy who tested out his limits like him, so I guess it really just endorsed what I already knew. Driving drunk sucks balls and you better use your fucking seatbelt.
About 3 months before Christmas I was walking down town just to do a bit of game shopping and what not. When I was coming out of a shop there was a massive crowed of people (Yeah talk about space right?) Surrounding this poor man who was on the floor, 2 paramedics were giving him CPR but it looked like he was gone. Myself and a couple of others were yelling at the people gathering around to move away, obviously nobody listened because a lot of people are nosy bastards. Something I wouldn't really like to see again.
I work in a Hospital, I see some pretty grim stuff but not death.
I am fortunate that I have not yet seen anyone die in front of me. I have pulled guns out of peoples' mouths, had guns pointed at me, and had to call in a couple overdoses, but luckily no deaths.
My father saw too much death, but as others have said one is too many. He says that he still has nightmares about his time overseas. He finally found out that he has severe PTSD about 10 years ago and has been working hard since to help with the symptoms. It is not easy but he has come a long way.
I would encourage anyone that was part of a traumatic event, death is not even a criteria, to speak with a trained specialist. People do not realize how much trauma can affect your life.
actually yes. I found a disabled rabbit (ie, both its back legs were broken) and decided I was going to take it to my Grandad for him to kill it humanely to put it out of its misery. Well. He did it right in front of me... I went quiet for the rest of that day
I feel extremely uneasy as a car passenger ever since, even though I wasn't even in the car that had the crash. I was just a car behind me and he streaked us before finally losing control and crashing straight into the mountain. Nevertheless, I hate not driving myself ever since. I get all sweaty, I have to constantly comment on the driving, the speed, overtaking... even though the driver doesn't really do anything wrong. I never let go of the front passenger hand grip.
Before that I had zero issues... so yeah, I am sure something happened to me but I really fail to see how a therapist can help me. I guess it's more something that will fade over time.
Die in front of me no.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder. You should check into it, especially if it is having a real impact on your life. All you need to have been affected is experiencing the trauma. That goes for witnessing or being directly involved.
A therapist can help you process that event. Until you fully process it you will be doomed to relive it. Look into EMDR therapy.
A guy, who was standing about 3 feet away from me, got shot and died almost immediately.
No, and I hope I am never in that position.
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