I don't believe that this is a case of PTSD. This awful event happened two days ago and it is still very fresh in your mind. You simply have not had enough time for the rawness to heal over, is my guess. Your anguish is what I would call perfectly normal for a sensitive, feeling person.

A very similar thing happened to me many years ago and it bothered me a great deal for a long time, though less and less as time went by.

I'm very sorry that you were witness to this very sad event.

I'm sorry that happened to you. I've seen animals get hit before and it's awful. It does get better with time though.

Sometimes bad things just happen and it's no one's fault. Try to focus on the positives - how many people came to help the poor dog, and that the owner cared enough to try to get it to the vet.

Do you know the woman who hit the dog? Maybe it would help you if you could reach out to her because I'm sure she's also feeling horrible about it. Maybe you can help each other. Sometimes it's therapeutic to discuss issues like these with someone who was there and who really understands.

I hope you feel better soon.

Oh dear.What an awful thing to see. Poor little pup. I wonder why he was loose?

I saw a puppy get hit once. The kids were playing in a front yard with it and it dashed out in traffic. The car ahead of me ran right over it. The dog got up and ran back to the lawn but was horribly injured. It could not have survived having its midsection crushed like that.

One time I hit a neighbor's dog. It dashed out in front of me before I could stop. Thank heavens it only had a leg injury and survived. I feel angry with the dog owners who let their dogs run loose.

I also saw a person get hit once. I won't even say too much about it, but it haunted me for a long time. As a witness, I was deposed by a lawyer. It was entirely the fault of the pedestrian, and the nice family that hit her were distraught. All I can say is that the horror eventually fades, especially when it was not your fault.

Things like this happen every minute of every day, but I am so sorry you saw this. Were you able to comfort the driver? Then you did a good thing.

The mind is an amazing thing and the horror of the vision will fade.

Your daughter will manage her schedule, so don't worry. It's a good step toward adulthood for her, having to deal with problems. I bet you will sail through your surgery and feel better than ever soon.

Hugs to you.

I am so sorry that you have so many troubling issues going on in your life right now. The experience with the dog seems to have been the final straw. Try to think of all
the blessings and good things in your life. When I do that, I find that the blessings always outweigh the bad. May the peace that passes understanding be yours today.

It's kinda why I stay close to home these days. I feel for you. Years ago I was at a bakery on a busy street in a near by town. People in the bakery must have left their car window open because their dog jumped out and was hit by a car. He was screaming, and then another car hit him. I was on the sidewalk in the dark waving my arms and yelling for the cars to stop but they kept on hitting him till he was dead. I had to restrain myself knowing I'd get hit too if I went out on the road with the steady traffic. I still think of this to this day.

Last fall my Dachshund got loose while I was a few feet away from him. He got thru a loose picket fence spindle. We live on a busy street with a side steet and an ally. I knew he was going to be hit..was waiting for tires to squeal. He was found after four hours trying to climb a tree after a squirrel. Since that day he is tethered in my fenced in yard.

I am so sorry. You have had so much to deal with lately, and I understand the ongoing stress of being a caregiver, as my DH has MS also.

The surgery in September--is that a re-do of the previous surgery on your arm? I was hoping that would heal without further complications.

I think you may be focusing on the dog not only because it's so fresh in your memory, but also as a way to diminish your focus on the other issues--which are much more prominent in your life.

I know it's hard, but you need to try to accentuate the positives right now...you have a new kidney, which means no dialysis; you have wonderful daughters and a loving DH; and you have a lot of friends here. I hope that, before your upcoming surgery, you can spend a few days doing things for yourself. You certainly deserve it!! Hugs!

You can drown out horrible images & memories by replacing them with something louder, more intense, brighter, etc.

When I saw Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom (yes, I do know I'm a sissy), I came home & turned on some loud, garish game show & let it fill my senses;
when that went off, I found something else, can't remember what.

Yeah, I'm not comparing myself to some combat veteran with PTSD. I'm sure my mind will eventually store this memory. And I won't feel so "haunted". I am comforting myself by holding my own little dog and saying "You'll never get out. You have a fenced in yard." Part of the problem is my dog looks a lot like the dog that got hit. No, I don't know the woman who was driving and hit him. She seemed like a lovely person. She was rushing to get her son to early AM basketball practice. Regarding my surgery, yes it will be the third surgery done on my dialysis arm. The second-opinion surgeon told me to do this, in fact, he even recommended more severe surgery, to remove the entire vein. That would leave a long scar but at least my arm would be flat. Heck, I'm patient. My original surgeon was highly recommended by my primary physican, who is also terrific. And yes, I know the memory will eventually fade. And my daughter will work out her school schedule. So thanks for listening (reading?) friends!

You don't need to be a combat vet to have PTSD. You can stress and PTSD from any kind of trauma at any time.

My coworker had to go to counseling for awhile after finding one of our clients deceased (in a very disturbing way). It was helpful for him.

I think since it was only 2 days ago you should give yourself a little time. You have an incredible amount of stressful things going on in your life at once. I'm sorry you had to see that. I have a really hard time getting images out of my head too. Time will help them fade to the background.

Oh...I am so sorry this happened. Seems several of us have had similar experiences, I won't go into mine...

I would suggest that you don't try to NOT think of it. You've been able to talk about it here, and that's a good thing. Let your brain process the whole thing before trying to "get over it". (gawd, I really hate that phrase)

It happened. It was real. Life happens. Death happens.

Love that little doggie of yours like there will be no tomorrow....cuz ya know what? There might not be...

Life happens. Death happens. It's real.

What a terrible thing to witness. Count your blessings that it wasn't you that hit the dog. I can't imagine how that poor woman feels......and the owner. Dogs just sometimes get out no matter how hard you try to protect them. I think your reaction is probably intensified because there's been so much trauma in your life lately and your emotions are running high. Nothing you can do about that. This too shall pass.

(((((Jannie)))))Sending good thoughts!

Thanks everyone-I'm feeling very emotional right now. Sick husband, we're going to apply for VA and Medicaid assistance for him- hate to be a burden but we can't afford all the care he needs. Twelve hours a week of a companion/aide isn't enough. I call relatives daily and post here. A lot. Thanks for the kind words. I remember once, years ago, driving home late one night from a date with an old boyfriend, I hit a cat in the road and kept on going-I didn't know the area/neighborhood. I've always felt bad. The woman who hit the dog stopped. No one did anything wrong. I am not sure how the dog got loose that early in the morning. (It was like 6 thirty am.) His owner took him so he wasn't alone. I'm so sad that he died but I knew his injuries were severe. I won't describe in detail.