Coping After A Flashback

[Mandy Tad]

And at the same time, this inner child is there feeling sad, guilty, ashamed, frightened and about to be rejected.

. This has helped me a lot today.

 

[maddog]

The only times I have felt close to the presence of my inner child, I have completely and enormously melted down, sometimes for days at a time. The grief and distress have been so all-consuming that my T has had to spend extra hours with me to try to get me back to coping reality. Such times have taken me closer to ending it all than I thought I could withstand.

I know it's very necessary to not only get to know that child, but to comfort and validate her. But quite frankly, for now, it's too much for me, too terrifying, and beyond what I can emotionally tolerate. I hope that changes some day, but I'm not sure when that will be, and that's a sad, lonely realisation.

Maddog

 

[Shellbell]

I'm with you Maddog. It's not a process I can cope with yet either.

 

[Whirlwind]

((Meadowsweet))

I am very new to this, I don't have good strategies yet.

When it is bad I take stuff to try and knock me out, not good I also know but I don't feel I have a choice at times.

My T says its ok to use my old "skills" to help cope, including dissociate. I have a routine at night I'm trying to get past "relaxed" and on to sleep. When I relax things seem to come through.

So I distract myself, doing routine things that are mindless and comfortable, I try to block out everything before sleep, I use earplugs and try to dissociate if I can. Yoga and exercise help. I took short trip recently and the change of environment gave me the best sleep I have had in months.

Some days I just get by, if I could sleep all day I would. I am also trying to make a "deal" with myself when the yuck sneaks through I journal it, clearly and quickly with the intention of "saving" it for later. I won't forget it but I don't have to deal with it now. I then do my best to block it out entirely.

Oddly, I have these significant memories and I find I will then forget. My own notes are surreal at times, I've already forgotten (again?).

I wish I could offer more but that's all I have right now.

Best, Whirlwind

 

[ertha]

Hi Whirlwind, and others above.. I am 37 and only just waking up to the fact that I was sexually abused at age 11. Its been amazing to unlock this part of me but at times very very scary. I too journal a lot and find I process a lot of emotional baggage that way very effectively. But what I wanted to share was that when my boat gets utterly rocked, that is; when I get super scary flashback memories and nightmares and fear my perportrator is in my house or backyard, I usually get so anxious and fearful that I can't sleep well..Then I take L-Tryptophan supplement for a few days. Its not a drug, its a supplement but strong! and has been tested on PTSD case studies and works to boost the serotonin in the brain. Apparently serotonin is what gets depleated in cases of extreme stress and anxiety. (Not trying to advertise , just share what a wonder this has been for my PTSD.

I welcome the flashbacks now because I know I am strong enough to process it and let it go, I feel that they are coming up to the surface and this will mean less brain fog , less paranoia and social anxiety etc etc etc...

x ertha

 

[Marie10]

When this happens to me I remind myself to be easy on myself. I let myself have the time to be upset but then just remember this. I will do something I enjoy and makes me feel good such as a bath or shower, watch a movie unrelated to what the flashback was, etc... I give myself time.

I'm going through it today when I went to my therapist and we talked about my teenage years. I then felt it, smelled it and was so deeply sad. I was haunted by the fact that for 1 1/2 years of my teenage life, I was in 3 rehabs because that's just how my parents handled me whenever I did something wrong- however miniscule.

It's something I had forgotten and it all came back. So tonight, I cancelled my plans (even thought I'm worried others will be upset- I have to take care of me) am going to eat some soup, a bath and a good movie. I may read and write about it too.

This forum is a lifesaver, Thank You and hope this helps.

 

[Shellbell]

I had a flashback yesterday and it was pretty bad. I was crying so hard afterwards. I just went and lay down on my bed to ride it out, until I could control my emotions better. Then I went and had a shower, as I always feel dirty when I remember any sexual abuse. I felt cleaner and a bit better after a shower.