After the Serious Accident

[Kiwi Stoker]

I too had a serious accident (5 days in hospital, 6 weeks off work). Please realise that the low mood you are feeling is part of the accident and is normal. It's due to the painkillers, the healing your body is doing etc.

Don't make any major decisions yet. Think over the accident. Was there anything you could of done to not cause it?

If so, make a resolution to correct that eg. I will never overlap wheels again, or I will learn to ride is a bunch correctly.

Borrow or get your Ruby and go for a ride by yourself in a safe place. How does it feel? Do your good cycling feelings return? Maybe give it a few goes.

If you then truely feel, I don't want to do this anymore, OK. But give yourself a chance.

[Crankin]

You pay for insurance for the very reasons you used it! Why would you feel guilty? Believe me, they don't raise premiums based on one person...
As a mental health professional, I suggest you talk to someone about your fears. It 's very normal to be afraid of getting back on the bike. There are lots of women here on TE that have had very bad crashes; they all took the time they needed to get back to riding in whatever way they needed to.
Riding is such a huge part of my life, I know that if I was hurt from a crash, I would focus my recovery on getting back on my bike. I have a very good friend who broke his hip 2 months before we were supposed to go on a bike trip. It was a freak accident, but although he has a bit of a limp, he is as fast as ever on his bike. He took his rehab very seriously and did over and above what he needed to. This was 2 years ago and he still is doing focused personal training and massage to work on his injury.
And, I concur about riding in groups. I have done less and less of it in the past 2 years, for the reasons everyone has stated.