Poll Do You Have the Urge to Run When Upset?

[trapped]

I always walk to my therapy appointments because it's only about a mile away anyway, and getting out and having to walk (or sometimes run) back helps me process when I have had a really bad therapy session. When I'm feeling upset about something minor, I'll go for a run to calm down, and then come back. But if there is something majorly distressing, I typically have to give my ATM and credit cards to a friend to hold on to until I'm feeling better, as I've been known to spontaneously purchase plane tickets to fly across the country just to run away. Part of that is sometimes the feeling that I HAVE to escape my immediate surroundings is so strong, it's the only thing I can do and I can't fight it. Part of it, is I usually end up traveling to Boston or one of two or three other locations, where for some strange reason I actually feel safe.

 

[liv now]

Hmmm very true of my state of my mind at present. I have been running all week. emotionally and physically. I ran out of my therapist's office on Friday and have just kept on going. I am not sure when I will stop or if I will return to therapy. Once I start to run I get the taste for it and don't know how to stop.

 

[shadow-light]

yes... a million times yes lol

on many occations i have run too, or hidden, or both

 

[BethRSA]

Running Away When Stressed

When triggers get to be too much, I like to run away responsibly. Sometimes I just get in the car and drive with no thought as to direction, purpose, etc.

When I can't run away to clear my head, it takes longer to calm down. Maybe because I feel that I'm not in control if I don't have the option to run away?

 

[anglico2024]

Yes, for me I either walk away or I pick a fight.

 

[starshine]

Yes, running often - when having flashbacks in public, mainly. Also *back then* I couldn't really run away from my attackers, or from home - although I did certainly try... father just grabbed my arm and forcibly yanked me back.
I feel tearful typing this.
Sometimes I wish I could run away forever from *all this* to somewhere completely safe where I'm protected... like I wasn't, back then.

 

[Robin]

Yes, I have run, in the middle of the night and not care what would happen to me. Just wanted the feelings, the anger the pain to go away. Run till I can't run anymore and then, when I can't run anymore. Would eventually walk back home. Living in South Africa, not the brightest idea to go running in the middle of the night. When things are feeling realy bad, I don't seem to care.

Have stopped that for a while, but do ensure that I run at a high intensity on the treadmill at gym till I am too tired to fight with myself. Found it really, really helps esp after a hectic session in T.

 

[a3a2]

I ran away from home at 16, and never went back. Unfortunately, it has become a bit of a pattern for me.

If my husband and I had a disagreement, I would walk out rather than try to resolve the conflict. Even now, with therapy, I struggle with that. My DH always comments that he can tell that I am thinking about how to escape. It is helpful that now he understands why I do that and is patient enough to talk me through it.

Right now I am in a conflict (very minor to most people, but to me it is a landmine) with a sibling. When I want to sooth my raw nerves, I tell myself I never have to see her again.

 

[miahowl]

I CONSTANTLY run if things are bad - 1st reaction. Can't deal with the heat so get out of the fire..... Guess I've been doing that my whole life or I wouldn't have PTSD from childhood and am now 40....

 

[Blessed84]

I began by running away multiple times as a teenager from foster homes where I felt unsafe. Even today as soon as a trigger becomes too much or I feel threatened I run - sometimes physically but usually I walk out of the situation and drive until I feel calm as I find it very soothing for some reason. It's like this alarm goes off in my head and all I want to do is escape because I fear going crazy if I don't because the feeling is so intense. Whether I return once I'm calm is debateable and depends on the situation. I thought I was the only one who did this, glad to know I'm not.

 

[Gunchief]

Running or just getting as far away from the situation as possible if I cannot fix it. I find that when Im driving and i trigger I can go for hundreds of miles with no memory of the drive, because I am so focused on staying in the present.
Dave

 

[cat]

Yes, sometimes I want run & hide, not in a suicidal way, I want to get away until this agony is over!