Is It Possible To Have A Flashback To Having A Flashback?

[GMW]

Hi all,
I think I must be going insane, I've tried googling this and got nowhere so I thought I'd join up and ask you guys.

Last night I was feeling hyper anxious, the slightest thing was setting me off, I was running around using avoidance techniques and hyper stressed with the effort of avoiding everything. I took my Clonazepam to try and calm down and lay in bed, giving up and realising that triggers were everywhere, I couldn't escape.

I put my head in the pillow and had a flashback to a time when I had my head in a pillow and had a flashback.

Basically, what happened was I was attacked by my ex, Christmas 2008. In march 2009 I was again attacked by someone I thought of as a friend. During the second attack, I flashed back to the first when I had my face in a pillow.

Last night I flashed back to the second attack and then there was a second sensation like I was being sucked down a drain and I was in the first attack. And as I came out, I went back through the second attack to get out to reality. (like a ladder of memory, I went down one rung, then down into the next and to get back up I had to step onto the rung up and then step into reality)

Is this normal?! Is there a word for it? Should I treat it in the same way as a normal flashback?

Thanks, my apologies if anything I've said has upset anyone.

 

[BlueOrange]

I've had these - traumatic memories of flashbacks that become problems in themselves. It can be pretty rough. I personally find the flashbacks to flashbacks more difficult than the original events!

I'm having some success using the same techniques that I use for the other stuff, but I'm interested to see what others have to say.

EDIT: Oh, don't worry about whether talking about your trauma upsets folks. Participants here are expected to be able to handle themselves if they get triggered or stressed.

 

[GMW]

I've had these - traumatic memories of flashbacks that become problems in themselves. It can be pre...

I'm not alone!! Thank you!! I found it worse than the normal flashbacks too.

I think I will have to talk to my T on Friday, this hasn't happened to me before and I'm finding it hard to cope with.

 

[joeylittle]

You're definitely not alone, @GMW. Memory is a strange bear trap, sometimes. On the positive side, it sounds like you have a clear understanding of what triggered that one - at least, physically. Putting some extra mindfulness in around bedtime might help. And definitely, talk with your therapist about it.

 

[C.M]

Yes I have experienced this; not alone.