Can You Stop Flashbacks By Not Allowing Yourself To Think ABout Them?

[Jade-]

I have been having this horrible flashback that I want to just go away completely.

If I don't let those thoughts/images/feelings have any power, will that make a difference? (If I can actually not let them have power) I'm trying to just avoid them altogether, by distracting myself, listening to music,etc.

My T. told me sometimes you can prevent yourself from "going there" and things will die back down, maybe not permanently, but for awhile. But he didn't explain exactly how to do it.

 

[NIKI]

Hi Jadebear, I have been quite simply doing that. If I start thinking about something bad that happened in my childhood, I simply say to myself "I'm not going there!" And simply change the subject in my thoughts so to speak. It does work most of the time but sadly not permanently. Try it, it can't hiurt right. NIKI

 

[NIKI]

Hi Jadebear, Lately I have been quite simply doing that. When I start thinking of something bad from my childhood, I simpy say to myself, "I am not going there!" Then I change the subject in my head so to speak. It helps alot, try it. Link Removed

 

[NIKI]

Sorry for writing that twice. I was playing around with some of the fancy stuff. NIKI

 

[Jade-]

Thanks NIKI. Sometimes I can distract myself from the thoughts.

I'm not really talking about just thinking about something from my childhood, I'm talking about flashbacks.

 

[NIKI]

Oh sorry Jadebear, I don't get flashback just intrusive thoughts all day long everyday! Sorry I can't help with that. NIKI

 

[Tinyflame]

I think that seems to work for trigger management- you can potentially see some of them coming or recognize even increased stress, but flashbacks are instantaneous, it's been my experience (though they are very infrequent) that all of a sudden you're just "there".

However, what you think of/ identifying how you feel, after the fact, I think that helps to indicate how much progress is being made i.e. you might not be able to stop it but you may not feel as bothered/ disturbed after it is over.

Not sure if that's even one-bit helpful.

 

[kers]

I was never able to just avoid the flashbacks, but if they got bad enough I would dissociate and be much less affected. That's not an ideal way to cope, though! After I worked through the bulk of my traumatic memories, I can now detach myself when flashbacks happen, so I can say to myself, "This is not happening now, I am safe now, this is just a memory," and go on with my day. I think a certain amount of distraction and avoidance is necessary to get through parts of our day (in public or with other people, for example), but on your own it can be really beneficial to let your guard down and stop fighting it. Going through the flashbacks sucks, but it's usually necessary to work through what happened.

 

[Artista]

Question related to this from you all... I have only had flashbacks once for each so far... I mean it is parts of the trauma i had repressed and I relive them (total sensory involved... smells, pain, sounds) I don't have all of it yet just pieces. Good lord.. I was kinda hoping that once out like that, that I wouldn't have to relive them over and over. That once I finally experienced it, it would be depleted and move to next to not come back... now i wonder if I am setting myself up for disappointment. I can sometimes stop a trigger from turning into a flashback if the kids are around or it's an unsafe place... not always but i have. Seems if I feel unsafe to have it in an extreme way I can stave it off. But not real cognizant of how. I think the stimulus of my kids does it for me.

 

[Jade-]

Going through the flashbacks sucks, but it's usually necessary to work through what happened.

So you think it's best to not try to fight them and just go with the flow??

 

[disconnect]

So you think it's best to not try to fight them and just go with the flow??

My T has been saying exactly this to me. I spoke to her today and she's urging me to stick with them, because she wants me to process the trauma and see what happens next inside my head (if anything), so I can understand what's happened, if that makes sense.

 

[James B.]

I agree disconnect - was writing about my instance of torture a while back, and that evening had two distinct but moderate flashbacks.

My attitude has changed, I just totally just it flow...

"Going with it" is the opposite of fighting it, its the opposite of bowing to the stigma. My attitude? Bring it on, let 'er rip and be proud of it. Its natural, my brain protected me. Therapy is signaling my brain...its awesome.

I simply don't by this negative stuff about my symptoms any longer.