I haven't experienced a flashback in ages now because I learned several coping mechanisms for dealing with them. I'd say the thing that helped most for me was learning what my triggers are and avoiding them. Of course sometimes you can't always avoid triggers. So I then learned how to recognize when a flashback was coming on and how to distract myself and stop it from occurring, by participating in something engaging or watching a funny show or anything. (I have companion animals that help distract me and calm me!) Slowly the physical sensations of the flashback fade away before I get involved in them mentally. If all else fails and I get sucked into a full flashback, (which rarely occurred once learning steps one and two of prevention) the goal is to try to stay as calm as possible and know that it will pass, and remind yourself that you are safe now. Though once it happens it really sucks obviously so prevention is the most important thing.
I went from having flashbacks that were almost nightly, to having not had one in several months now. Good luck to you all!!
I went from having flashbacks that were almost nightly, to having not had one in several months now. Good luck to you all!!
