Acceleration triggered my fiancée's PTSD

guy_incognito1420 · 03-11-2023, 07:57 PM

Almost a week into ownership and the SO and I were running errands this morning and I told her that I hadn’t had a chance to really go wide open on the accelerator and if it was ok if I tried it on the on ramp to the highway. She said sure.

I throw it in Sport Boost mode and give it a go. Immediately she begins screaming and crying so I had to stop and pull over.

About six weeks ago, she was sitting at a red light driving back from work and a drunk driver hit her going approximately 80 mph in a 45 mph work zone.

She’s had trauma related to sitting at stop lights and people driving aggressively and she’s been improving but today was the first time she’s dealt with crazy acceleration and it wasn’t great. Hope she doesn’t regress but we both understand recovery will take a long time from a mental aspect.

She’s going to talk to her therapist about it next week, in the meantime I told her to document it for her attorney as he works with insurance to make sure she’s properly compensated for all the expenses and suffering from all this.

I can’t stand dead beat drunk drivers. This was his second DUI within a month too.

Space Cadet · 03-12-2023, 05:19 AM

Two types of drivers I can’t stand are DUI (either drink or drugs) and handheld mobile phone use whilst driving.

I hope that she gets over this, however as you say, it’s going to take a while (and maybe not so much ‘G’). I’m glad that she suffered no serious physical injuries at the hands of the selfish drunk. Some people just don’t get it and don’t care that they are putting other people at risk of serious harm, physically and mentally.

smatanovic · 03-12-2023, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy_incognito1420

Almost a week into ownership and the SO and I were running errands this morning and I told her that I hadn’t had a chance to really go wide open on the accelerator and if it was ok if I tried it on the on ramp to the highway. She said sure.

I throw it in Sport Boost mode and give it a go. Immediately she begins screaming and crying so I had to stop and pull over.

About six weeks ago, she was sitting at a red light driving back from work and a drunk driver hit her going approximately 80 mph in a 45 mph work zone.

She’s had trauma related to sitting at stop lights and people driving aggressively and she’s been improving but today was the first time she’s dealt with crazy acceleration and it wasn’t great. Hope she doesn’t regress but we both understand recovery will take a long time from a mental aspect.

She’s going to talk to her therapist about it next week, in the meantime I told her to document it for her attorney as he works with insurance to make sure she’s properly compensated for all the expenses and suffering from all this.

I can’t stand dead beat drunk drivers. This was his second DUI within a month too.

Oh man, Im so sorry for her and for you. That's awful!

guy_incognito1420 · 03-12-2023, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smatanovic

Oh man, Im so sorry for her and for you. That's awful!

Thank you.

It’s been a process. We’re very fortunate she walked away from the crash given it basically destroyed both cars but the mental trauma it causes is pretty bad.

It sucks because she knows it’s not rational but her brain just goes nuts and she gets severe anxiety over things that trigger the PTSD. Rapid acceleration is one of those things we learned.

We’re flying out to MA in a few weeks, we both hope the PTSD won’t be triggered on a plane. I don’t think it will but you never know.

techwhiz1 · 03-12-2023, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy_incognito1420

Thank you.

It’s been a process. We’re very fortunate she walked away from the crash given it basically destroyed both cars but the mental trauma it causes is pretty bad.

It sucks because she knows it’s not rational but her brain just goes nuts and she gets severe anxiety over things that trigger the PTSD. Rapid acceleration is one of those things we learned.

We’re flying out to MA in a few weeks, we both hope the PTSD won’t be triggered on a plane. I don’t think it will but you never know.

My daughter had an accident that deployed airbags in her car.

The PTSD is a real thing. Took her a while to get back behind the wheel.

All the best to you and your fiancee.

guy_incognito1420 · 03-12-2023, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

My daughter had an accident that deployed airbags in her car.

The PTSD is a real thing. Took her a while to get back behind the wheel.

All the best to you and your fiancee.

I’m happy to hear your daughter is doing well post crash.

We’re optimistic she’ll get there, just sucks we had the set back. In hindsight I should’ve known better.

I’ve never been in a car that’s this fast, I should’ve tried it on my own.

techwhiz1 · 03-13-2023, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy_incognito1420

I’m happy to hear your daughter is doing well post crash.

We’re optimistic she’ll get there, just sucks we had the set back. In hindsight I should’ve known better.

I’ve never been in a car that’s this fast, I should’ve tried it on my own.

It took a while. My daughter is about two years post crash.

guy_incognito1420 · 03-13-2023, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

It took a while. My daughter is about two years post crash.

That's good to know. We'll just take it a day at a time.

cfm56d7b · 03-13-2023, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

My daughter had an accident that deployed airbags in her car.

The PTSD is a real thing. Took her a while to get back behind the wheel.

All the best to you and your fiancee.

Indeed - all the best you and your fiancée. Time and patience …

smatanovic · 03-14-2023, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

It took a while. My daughter is about two years post crash.

My ex-wife was in a 1-car crash on NY day 2000 due to the failure of a control arm, and still has flashbacks occasionally, when she's in a car. I feel like it's just a hard-wired defense mechanism. I wish both of the folks here restful recovery.

heatmizr · 03-14-2023, 07:24 PM

People who put OTHERS at risk against their will SUCK. If you want to risk your own life, go parachuting. I get angry when ppl drive like asshats around me.

Hope she is able to get better.
Now, have you gotten out there and properly launched it yet by yourself or what?

guy_incognito1420 · 03-14-2023, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatmizr

People who put OTHERS at risk against their will SUCK. If you want to risk your own life, go parachuting. I get angry when ppl drive like asshats around me.

Hope she is able to get better.
Now, have you gotten out there and properly launched it yet by yourself or what?

Thanks and not yet. Haven’t had a proper opportunity since.

As the weather gets warmer I’ll take it out and give it another go. It’s been pretty cold the last couple of days.

cupholder · 03-17-2023, 10:53 AM

So sorry to here this, I hope it fades soon for her.

As others have said, there is just no excuse for inconsiderate reckless driving (tailgating, not driving to the conditions, etc.) - there is a time and place for everything.

My wife and youngest (13) won't let me use the car full accelleration when they are in the car. Even on the test drive, they got out and left me and my eldest to enjoy the g-force.

Maybe a bot of pot and kettle there, but I like to think I drive responsibly...

03-11-2023, 07:57 PM	#1
guy_incognito1420 Second Lieutenant 245 Rep 230 Posts Drives: F25 X3, i4 M50 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: DMV iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2017 BMW X3 28i xDrive [0.00]	Acceleration triggered my fiancée's PTSD Almost a week into ownership and the SO and I were running errands this morning and I told her that I hadn’t had a chance to really go wide open on the accelerator and if it was ok if I tried it on the on ramp to the highway. She said sure. I throw it in Sport Boost mode and give it a go. Immediately she begins screaming and crying so I had to stop and pull over. About six weeks ago, she was sitting at a red light driving back from work and a drunk driver hit her going approximately 80 mph in a 45 mph work zone. She’s had trauma related to sitting at stop lights and people driving aggressively and she’s been improving but today was the first time she’s dealt with crazy acceleration and it wasn’t great. Hope she doesn’t regress but we both understand recovery will take a long time from a mental aspect. She’s going to talk to her therapist about it next week, in the meantime I told her to document it for her attorney as he works with insurance to make sure she’s properly compensated for all the expenses and suffering from all this. I can’t stand dead beat drunk drivers. This was his second DUI within a month too.
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03-12-2023, 05:19 AM	#2
Space Cadet Second Lieutenant 153 Rep 210 Posts Drives: M50, E71 40dx, E46 330 vert Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Solar System iTrader: (0)	Two types of drivers I can’t stand are DUI (either drink or drugs) and handheld mobile phone use whilst driving. I hope that she gets over this, however as you say, it’s going to take a while (and maybe not so much ‘G’). I’m glad that she suffered no serious physical injuries at the hands of the selfish drunk. Some people just don’t get it and don’t care that they are putting other people at risk of serious harm, physically and mentally. Last edited by Space Cadet; 03-12-2023 at 05:26 AM..
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03-14-2023, 07:24 PM	#11
heatmizr Captain 153 Rep 709 Posts Drives: E70 X5 50i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	People who put OTHERS at risk against their will SUCK. If you want to risk your own life, go parachuting. I get angry when ppl drive like asshats around me. Hope she is able to get better. Now, have you gotten out there and properly launched it yet by yourself or what? __________________ heatmizr [Todd] g26 i4 e40 - Clean Machine e70 X5 50i M-Sport "The Boss" Loaded e90 328i - sold e36 M3 - Gone to become a track star
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03-17-2023, 10:53 AM	#13
cupholder Private 43 Rep 61 Posts Drives: i4 M50 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	So sorry to here this, I hope it fades soon for her. As others have said, there is just no excuse for inconsiderate reckless driving (tailgating, not driving to the conditions, etc.) - there is a time and place for everything. My wife and youngest (13) won't let me use the car full accelleration when they are in the car. Even on the test drive, they got out and left me and my eldest to enjoy the g-force. Maybe a bot of pot and kettle there, but I like to think I drive responsibly...
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