Nearly Hit by Truck.
So my teenage daughter had a traumatic experience this week. Walking to school she stopped at a busy intersection. She eyed a twin trailer truck. There was no indicator so she assumed that it was going in the other direction. My daughter stepped out to cross the road.
The truck came around the corner. My daughter’s years of Warrior Kids training kicked in. Without thinking she stepped back and just avoided being struck. It was a near miss that caused the truck driver to slow and check on her.
My daughter felt that initially the driver hadn’t seen her, and that he got a fright when he did. She felt for him.
My daughter did great. She got herself out of harm’s way. She’ll be more mindful from now on. However what came next was something that my daughter hadn’t experienced before. The aftershock and the effects of trauma.
She was emotional, panicky and confused. Became stuck in the moment. Stuck in the, ‘what if’.
My daughter dismissed her feelings. Felt that she was being overdramatic. She tried to carry on with her day as though nothing had happened. She didn’t want to make a fuss.
By the time she got home to me in the afternoon the emotions were overflowing. I was able to help my daughter process what had happened and the after effects. I explained to her how her brain and body had responded to the near miss. She realised that it was natural and that she wasn’t being overdramatic.
This has allowed the experience to shift for her. My daughter has asked me to share her experience so that others may learn from it
With love
Tim
This article was first published on Facebook and Linkedin August 6, 2021.
Copyright© Tim Tipene, 2021.
