Misunderstood & Alone

[MJG017]

@avant-gardeThey say people find strength through adversity.  I've also found that people who have their own struggles have been the most understanding and supportive people I've ever talked to.  So I guess that must say so much about the type of person you are and why people that know you would feel privileged to walk beside you.

It's amazing how fast we can get used to this sort of unfamiliar and find our desire to give that support and understanding back.  It's this cycle that has given so much to me this year.

[avant-garde]

@MJG017 

I was in a 5 car pile up just 6 months after I passed my test, at the time I was also homeless... I was the front vehicle and being a very cautious driver meant I left plenty of space in front of me at the traffic lights... I'm so thankful I did because when it happened I didn't hit the l car in front... I stopped that chain...

I got to encourage someone today... the anxiety to get back in the car... even when you're not at fault... it's terrifying... but not impossible...

It's been 3 years and I still get anxious at tailgaters but I just mouth off at them at the rear view mirror 

[avant-garde]

I've been active 4 days and already a senior contributor... that feels too short...

[tyme]

Hey @avant-garde ,

Hearing you. 

And this is something we need to do better. It has certainly been a focus for us for the last few weeks whereby we are looking at the titles, the role of them, and where to from next.

For your clarifcation, anyone who has made 30+ posts gets ranked up to 'senior contributor', as opposed to how long you have been registered for.

Hope this clarifies things.

[MJG017]

@avant-garde 

It must have been very unsettling (to say the least) to be involved in an accident so soon after passing your test.  You must have very good driving awareness though to leave that gap which stopped it getting any worse, not many people think like that on the road.  Well done for using it to encourage somebody else dealing with a similar incident.  I noticed your reply to that post recently about struggling after being in an accident.  It does take some time to get that confidence back... even from near misses.

I spend most of my time driving just swearing to myself 😁  Stupidity and lack of paying attention is bad enough, but some people just really struggle with the rules... like please don't turn right in front of me from the left lane on a multi-lane roundabout.

[avant-garde]

@tyme 

I think a better way would be active a number of days in a row

Like 7 days

Then a month

Etc

[avant-garde]

@MJG017 

I think the worst I do is change lanes upon exiting a roundabout

So turning right (in the right lane) to then be almost immediately turning left after the roundabout...

One thing I do though is take off really slowly from traffic lights if I have someone too close behind me... I don't like them... I teach them patience...

[MJG017]

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@avant-garde wrote:

One thing I do though is take off really slowly from traffic lights if I have someone too close behind me... I don't like them... I teach them patience...

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@avant-garde  My partner takes particular joy in doing the same thing.

[avant-garde]

@MJG017 

I've been running for 20 years and have been found twice...

Forums themself are a very strong trigger for me because I was severely punished the first time I reached out on a forum when I was 14 and so I'm very careful with forums and anonymity is very important to me because being found... I can't be found...

And it was a mistake to even briefly share the state I'm in...

[MJG017]

Hi @avant-garde 

From reading your other post, I assume it explains a lot about why you would question anyone taking an interest in you.  Sane does take anonymity seriously but it doest mean its perfect, so I completely understand you being so cautious.  You deserve support and understanding but obviously need to balance that with your own safety.  But just know we are here for you and will support you however you want us to and we dont need any indentifying information to do that.  Hopefully there will be a day when you can stop running, but until then I hope uou can continue to find that support you deserve and that the privacy here can help with that.