Does the crash just keep playing in your head over and over? Is that normal?

Yes. 100% yes, this is normal. I went through almost exactly this after someone ran a red light and clipped me last year. I kept telling myself it was 'just a car accident' and I should be fine, but my brain did not get that memo. The replay loop is brutal — mine lasted a few weeks before it started fading. You're not spiraling. Your nervous system just went through something scary and it's processing it in the only way it knows how.

What you're describing — the intrusive replays, the emotional numbness alternating with sudden waves of anxiety — those are textbook acute stress responses. Your body literally flooded with adrenaline during the crash and your brain is still trying to file the experience away somewhere safe. It can take time.

Please don't dismiss this because you feel like others have it worse. Trauma isn't a competition. If this keeps up past a few weeks or starts interfering with sleep, eating, or daily functioning, it's really worth talking to a counselor or your primary care doctor. There's no dramatic threshold you have to hit to deserve support.

I just want to say — you're not being dramatic at all. A crash is scary no matter how it looks on paper afterward. Please be gentle with yourself right now. 💙

The fact that you're naming what you're feeling and reaching out is actually a really healthy sign. A lot of people bottle this stuff up and it comes out sideways months later. You're already doing better than you think by just saying 'hey, this is happening to me.' That counts for something.

One thing worth knowing — and I'm not saying this to stress you out more — is that if you end up dealing with any insurance claims, the emotional aftermath of an accident can actually be a documented part of your claim. It's sometimes called 'pain and suffering' and it's legitimate. Keep a simple journal if you can, even just a few sentences a day about how you're feeling. Nothing formal. Just timestamped notes. Could matter later.

On the practical side: if the other driver's insurance reaches out to you wanting a recorded statement, be really careful. They may try to get you to say you're 'doing fine' or 'feeling okay' and that can be used to minimize any claim you have. You don't have to talk to them without getting some guidance first.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — the psychological impact, the sleep disruption, the intrusive memories — is something courts and insurance companies do take seriously as real harm. Don't let anyone tell you that because your car is drivable and you didn't break a bone, nothing compensable happened. If you haven't at least had a free consult with a PI attorney, it might be worth it just to understand your options. Most won't charge you for that conversation.

Your sister is right. Go talk to someone. Not because you're broken, but because a therapist who deals with trauma can actually give you tools to slow down that replay loop instead of just white-knuckling through it. Don't wait to see if it gets better on its own for months. Two or three sessions might make a huge difference.

How long ago exactly did this happen? A week out is still really raw — I'd honestly give yourself a bit more time before deciding if this is something that needs professional help or if it's just your brain doing what brains do after a scary event. That said, if you're not sleeping or it's getting worse rather than better, then yeah, don't wait.