Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by injuries from a bicycle accident

I loved riding bicycles from when I was young until my early twenties. Cycling was my hobby, and I had a lot of specialized cycling equipment. However, one day I had a bicycle accident... and since then, I develop PTSD whenever I see a bicycle.

I would like to talk about that day and how the PTSD is currently progressing.

 

The place where the bicycle accident happened was a large park in the neighborhood. The park is quite big, with several uphill and downhill paths, making it a great place for cycling. That day, as usual, I was riding my bike alone and going down a hill when... the accident occurred. A stray cat suddenly darted out in front of me, and I turned the handlebars to avoid it... the bike tipped over, and I was seriously injured. It wasn't to the point of needing surgery, but my arms and legs were completely scraped, I fell forward and hurt my face, and my teeth were even broken. Since that day, bicycles have completely disappeared from my life lol.

Just seeing bicycles makes my heart race, and I avoid places with many bike paths nearby. I have developed PTSD.

 

After some time has passed, I tend to forget the day of the accident quite a bit, but during everyday life, suddenly! Just, unexpectedly. There are times when the accident flashes back in my mind. Sometimes it comes to mind even with things that are completely unrelated.

At those times, my heart would race intensely. Even in daily life, when I hear sounds related to bicycles, such as the sound of wheels turning or horns honking, a sense of anxiety would overwhelm me... At first, I thought I must have been really scared back then... but later I realized it was post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At that time, the concept of PTSD didn't even exist... I only came to understand PTSD later.

 

Then I found out that there is a program called mental health happiness treatment as part of the health checkup program at work.

Since it's free, I decided to get a consultation with a professional about PTSD, thinking I should try it once.

The biggest problem was that even now, when I think about that time, my heart still pounds and races.

The counselor was very understanding of my feelings and did not impulsively suggest I try riding a bike. They said calming my mind is the most important thing. Now, they told me that a bike is no longer a symbol of fear, but rather a process of healing and a new beginning, and that really stuck with me.

So through that counseling, my fear of riding a bicycle has significantly diminished for now. I still can't ride and go around freely like I used to, but I am satisfied just with this progress and I plan to continue working on myself moving forward.

 

If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like me, please consider receiving counseling therapy.

Counseling is the best...^^

 

For those curious about the program I received, if you search for the keyword "Mental Health Program" as shown in the screenshot below, you'll find a lot of related information! Many are also operated by the government.

 

 

EX