What Happens When You Go Through Another Trauma?

[Audreeeey]

What are some helpful ways of dealing with debilitating panic attacks and anxiety directly after a similar trauma occurs?

A twin of one of my traumatic experiences happened this week and I have lost all hope in knowing I am safe and okay. Please help me..

 

[The Albatross]

Very sorry Audreeeey. I don't have an answer for this but wanted you to know I was hoping that you're okay.

 

[Ted Moen]

If you are in a hostile environment (traumatic situation) and especially if you have previous trauma you have to remove yourself from the hostile situation and get yourself to a safe place. Now.

Ted

 

[Elisacullen21]

I'm sorry about your traumatic experiences on this week :( You need to remove youself from the hostile situation for your security. As soon as you can.

I have other traumatic experiences in my life. Not only the rape and the attempted rape before (I forgot to mention this in my presentation :S).
I was a victim of bullying in school for 14 years :( (during my entire School career :S).
And my mom is a traumatized person. She was the victim of abuse at home parent for many years...And I live with her :S

 

[Lionheart]

Some things that I have found helpful are;

Focus on breathing in and out, *( I imagine that my breathe is like the ocean tide, rocking gently back and forth and this puts me into a relaxed state).

Notice the physical things around you and make a mental note of them, *(this helps keep you grounded in the here and now).

Talk to someone you trust about your thoughts and feelings.

Write in a journal about the experience and read it to yourself.

Take a nature walk and get away from people or situations that are making things difficult, *(this gives you a break from the anxiety and is also helpful for depression. It also gives you time to think about what the trigger was and what, if anything you wish to do about it).

Repeat affirmations to yourself.

These are just a few of the things I think of when dealing with anxiety and panic and I hope you find them helpful.

LH

 

[Audreeeey]

I'm sorry about your traumatic experiences on this week :( You need to remove youself from the hostile situation for your security. As soon as you can.

I have other traumatic experiences in my life. Not only the rape and the attempted rape before (I forgot to mention this in my presentation :S).
I was a victim of bullying in school for 14 years :( (during my entire School career :S).
And my mom is a traumatized person. She was the victim of abuse at home parent for many years...And I live with her :S

I am so sorry to hear that. I was the victim of an attempted rape myself and it once again happened to me this week. Please message me if you ever need to talk about it.

 

[Elisacullen21]

Thanks for the support :) It means a lot to me. I imagine the fear that you should have felt :(
I got frozen/dissociated during the rape, so...

My sister (she was 15 years old now) saw one of attempted rape that I was subject by my neighbor.
My mom does not know what happened before the rape. I never told her.

If you need to talk you can send me a message too. I will try to answer as best I can.

 

[melody]

I hope you're in a safer place Audreeeey and not feeling quite so helpless. :)

 

[rockyspine]

I think Lionheart's suggestions are really great. I'm sorry this happened to you, and I too have been both raped and attempted rape. For me, I just go totally numb and dead and don't start to panic until after the incident (it has happened 3 times total, but not for over a year now). One thing happened a few weeks ago - and I'm sorry if this story upsets anyone, please be warned it is possibly disturbing... I was at a bar with some friends, and we were sitting outside waiting for our friend to pick us up and a guy came over. Long story short, he took out his you-know-what and shoved it in our faces. My friends of course jumped up to get away and told him to get lost. The man did not touch me or speak to me or pay any attention to any of us after that (I don't think he was really violent or anything), he just left, but the whole time I remained seated, and didn't move at all. It wasn't until the next day, and even now, that I think "how terrifying".

Does anyone else have this "delayed response"? Or not know what to do in the moment a repeat incident of what you previously survived happens?

As for dealing with panic attacks, I think concentrating on your breathing is the most important thing.
Best wishes.

 

[maddog]

Well, there are three categories of survival response available to we human animals... fight, flight, and freeze. As a freezer myself, I can relate to your inability to move or respond and the delayed physical and/or emotional reactions that take place as a result.

Of course any of these responses can be either adaptive or maladaptive under certain circumstances, but once it is established that we are predominently inclined one way or the other, I don't think that changes easily.

There are some real grubs out there in the world...

Maddog

 

[Selena5473]

I too have been through multiple traumas =/ I was abused by my ex for years and years, which I didn't really see as a trauma, though my T has identified it as one. As soon as I got out of my relationship, which took massive amounts of courage I witnessed my neighbor being murdered by her abusive husband. She was 7 months pergnant. I held her bullet wound shut with my bare hands, but she was hit in her coratid artery and bled out all over me despite my desperate attempts to keep her alive until the ambulance arrived. This was when I snapped. Ptsd was full blown at this point and I felt as though I would never be safe, and no other woman would ever be safe. It is a terrible feeling, and I am not anywhere near healing, however I have improved, and to me that is a huge success. If I didn't have my T I would surely sink and never be able to pull myself out of the inevitable rut I would be living in. It is extremely important to talk, talk , TALK. It is so hard, and at first you will probably not be able to talk about much but it does get easier. I will not promise you that you will be all smiles and sunshine, as I have not found that place after several years. It will however, improve over time. Please keep your head up.