Getting over a crash...how? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Getting over a crash...how?

油井緋色

油井緋色

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Some of you know that I had a highside at mosport rdt last year where I broke my collarbone.

I'm back on the saddle now but every right turn I take I am extremely hesitant. I decided to do some light ramping alone at very moderate speed (no where near knee dragging) and even that triggered some PTSD symptoms; I would look at the corner exit and suddenly experience a sensation of the rear kicking out and me hitting the guard rail. That broke my concentration and made me fixate at the guardrail. This happens with anything turning right from curbs to slippery lines...hell, I fixated at a curb turning right and ended hopping onto it and hopping off.

Left turns I have no problem with...only right. How the **** do I get over this?

And I'll emphasis this: this is not happening at a fast pace. Even taking intersection turns at 30km/h I'm involuntarily freaking out a little.
 
JClarke said:
Look where you want to go. Object fixation is not fun.
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This. No idea how to make it happen but FOR SURE don't look at things you can crash into.

Hopefully you get it sorted. Get back to Mosport RDT, a few sessions of not crashing and you should be good to go.
 
johnscruiser said:
This. No idea how to make it happen but FOR SURE don't look at things you can crash into.

Hopefully you get it sorted. Get back to Mosport RDT, a few sessions of not crashing and you should be good to go.
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I don't fixate until I get that freaked out sensation. Maybe I just need to take every turn with strict technique and force myself to stare at the exit...but I still randomly get a strong "going to crash" sensation which automatically makes me fixate.
 
So you aren't working through any injuries or pain and have full range of motion? Does this happen on a bicycle as well?
 
Not a brain specialist but by ramping you are reinforcing the response you don't want. ( It might be worth reading Plastic Brain so you understand the mechanism ) Recreating the conditions that led to the trauma.
The response is not something you have conscious control over.

I'd suggest do some off road or some other kind of riding that is not reinforcing the problem so you create other pathways.
I get a similar moment of panic after switching driving in Canada and Australia...some situation I'll be be momentarily confused as to the correct side of the road to be on in say a left turn.

To a point I can focus and ride safely and get into the correct lane, but I cannot eliminate that "twinge" of confusion....it does however go away after about a month of relaxed riding until the correct side becomes automatic again.
Now I have no trauma associated with it - you do - so it may well take a good while to "overwrite".

Your ramping is constantly triggering the trauma - reinforcing the problem.
My advice out of this - don't push it, lots of relaxed riding that lets your mind wander ( everyone but a new rider knows what I'm on about )- most easy riding is reflexive - the distance goes by without thinking about it
maybe some music you like will help deflect the trigger - get back to riding reflexively instead of being focused.

You HAVE to be focused on ramping and track riding.
Focusing is reinforcing the negative reaction.
Ride in in situations not needing that focus for a while
my 2¢

Your "strict techique " might work.....it's what I do for a while when I switch countries ....but in your case it might be just reinforcing the problem
 
Imo your brain and body experience the sensation of the bike and body position of the original crash. The street is much more dangerous to crash.

If you can get back to Mosport and get a few laps in and "break through" the same situation you were in when you crash, that may help.

For me. I had some nasty crashes in dirt but, I was well protected and could revisit the place I wiped out and work through alternatives.

Ramping may help you with lean and gaining confidence in tire traction again. But it won't be the same situation so, you may doubt things and lose the confidence you are looking for.
 
JClarke said:
Look where you want to go. Object fixation is not fun.
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It's like you didn't even read the OP's post.

Have you talked to a psychiatrist about the accident or with a close friend or family member? I have never experienced PTSD, but from your post it would appear it all just mind games in this instance. You need to find a way to move past the accident - mentally. Talking about it - perhaps at nauseam - could be a start. Have you gone back to the track yet where it happened? I would rather seen you try to take a right turn, and build speed, on the track rather than on the public streets too.
 
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Thanks for the advice MacDoc. Going to do just that today...pick a direction and go.

I'll be going back to Mosport on the last weekend of June. As for the psychiatrist stuff..I've thought about it. Everyone close to me knows about the accident and how it happened. It never bugged me when it occurred (aside from massive pain). Somehow the accident is bugging me more than I thought it did...this is weird stuff.
 
油井緋色;2306667 said:
[...] As for the psychiatrist stuff..I've thought about it. [...] It never bugged me when it occurred (aside from massive pain). Somehow the accident is bugging me more than I thought it did...this is weird stuff.
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youre problem is u overthink things. u have a "monkeye brayne" as they said. like most peoples. getting into viscyous cycle of tying to find prob, and ways of corecting problam.

unless yur simptoms are signifficantlly afecting ur normale everydaynes activities (u dont wanna go to work anymore, stopping seeing frends, thughts of suisicde), then pasychiatrist wont see you. but u can see a pasycologists insted but you pay maybe $160 per our. personably, i tink itll make things worse. why? b/c prob is over-tinking. go see sharink, and what they say: oh, lets tink about it some mure!

wit my most beatiful smiles and warmestest feelings with all my merriest thouts, i said: try mindfullness. read very good book: "Mindfulness: 8 weak plan fur finding peace in frank world" bye Mark WIlliams. also can try: http://rodalebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/mindfulness/index.html

all my bestest feelign to you! :)



oh, and by way... my warmest feelings said: i saspect that youre situatian has very litle to do with crash. it ur way of tinking overalls. i tink.
 
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Give it time. Ride relaxed and don't push it.
Had the same thing when I crashed at GB and broke my collar bone several years ago.
Really freaked me out, even on the street at a relaxed pace... took a good part of the remainder of the summer to get back to my original self.
 
mudmojo said:
So you aren't working through any injuries or pain and have full range of motion? Does this happen on a bicycle as well?
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No and I have no idea about bicycles. I haven't ridden one for years.

BigEvilDoer said:
Give it time. Ride relaxed and don't push it.
Had the same thing when I crashed at GB and broke my collar bone several years ago.
Really freaked me out, even on the street at a relaxed pace... took a good part of the remainder of the summer to get back to my original self.
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Thanks, you were on the army green GSXR last year right?
 
油井緋色;2306683 said:
Thanks, you were on the army green GSXR last year right?
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Nope. At the DDT day you crashed at I was on a Black, red and white Daytona 675. Big "Kohlarbonez" stickers on the lower.
 
BigEvilDoer said:
Give it time. Ride relaxed and don't push it.
Had the same thing when I crashed at GB and broke my collar bone several years ago.
Really freaked me out, even on the street at a relaxed pace... took a good part of the remainder of the summer to get back to my original self.
Click to expand...

This. It takes time to mentally get over a crash. Keep your technique proper and reinforce good habits. If you find yourself freaking find a way to calm yourself, look where you want to go (don't fixate). With time and practice you will get over it and back to having fun. If it takes you longer than most, that's fine just do it at a pace you are comfortable with.
 
The key for you is to go riding right away, and purposely crash 10 times in a row. If you do not seriously hurt or kill yourself you will realize that crashing is no big deal.
 
I would go back to the track and hit that corner over and over again. Hopefully there is gonna be the time you wont even think about it and just be having fun.
 
The best way to get over a crash is to talk about it. You need to raise awareness. Then examine all physical and psychological facets of the crash. Invite input from other crashees. This will provide perspective both from hard numbers and intuitive flavour with which to synthesize a strategy going forward. Best of luck to your journey.
 
BigEvilDoer said:
Nope. At the DDT day you crashed at I was on a Black, red and white Daytona 675. Big "Kohlarbonez" stickers on the lower.
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Wait. On the day he crashed and broke his collarbone, you were on a bike that had a "Kohlarbonez" sticker?
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