eli5 Why it feels like traumatic events happen in slow motion causing them to feel like they last longer than than the few seconds they actually do?

Question

I.e car accident

In: 41

Answer 1

Long story short, adrenaline is a hell of a drug. I remember crashing my bike once, and as I was sailing over my handlebars, I distinctly remember thinking “Oh no, I’m gonna be late for class!” in the fraction of a second I was in mid-air. Fortunately, I only had some minor scrapes and bruises and actually did make it on time.