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After experiencing an acute crisis situation, it's understandable that you may be feeling exhaustion and dysregulation in your emotional state. Taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to rest can help you recover and feel more centered again. Here are some things you can try to help yourself relax, feel safe, and re-regulate:Now that the acute crisis situation has passed, I'm deeply exhausted and still dysregulated. What can I do to help myself relax, feel safe and re-regulate?
That's great to hear that taking a hot shower has helped you to feel better. I think it's an excellent idea to set a timer when watching TV to check in on how you're doing. You're right; it's easy to get lost in those activities and not notice how they're impacting your mood and dysregulation. Checking in with yourself every 30 minutes can help you stay mindful of how you're feeling and whether the activity is beneficial or not.I just had a hot shower... that seems to help a lot. I'm going to try watching some TV to distract me but I'm going to set a timer for 30 minutes, to remind myself to check in on how I'm doing as it's easy to get "lost" with stuff like TV or the internet, you just keep watching/ channel surfing/ clicking on new websites even when you're staying dysregulated. So it's really important for me to check whether TV is helping or making things worse or keeping me stuck at the same level of dysregulation.
People with PTSD due to childhood trauma may be more vulnerable to entering abusive relationships later in life due to a range of factors, including:Why do people who have PTSD due to childhood trauma often get into abusive, unhealthy relationships, later in life?
When a wave of anxiety, fear, and overwhelm washes over you, it's essential to have calming techniques that you can implement to regulate your emotions and manage the symptoms. Some helpful techniques include:What can I do (calming techniques etc) when a wave of anxiety, fear and overwhelm washes over me?
You're absolutely right that calming techniques are not a magic fix, and it's common for individuals with PTSD to feel like their brain is fighting against these techniques as a means of self-preservation. PTSD can cause the body and mind to hold onto the trauma response as a way of keeping the individual safe. These responses, although over-attuned, were initially helpful for survival, and undoing them can be challenging.I have a question about these calming techniques... I find that they don't immediately work... They're not a magic fix.... And the fear feels so REAL. And it feels like there's a real threat and I'm just trying to "trick" my brain into being less fearful about the real threat. I think my brain fights against the soothing techniques because it's convinced the fear is necessary for survival. (I have PTSD so you can see where that's coming from).
Can you elaborate on this please?Instead of trying to "trick" your brain into feeling less fearful, try to shift your focus to increasing your tolerance for uncomfortable feelings, accepting your body's natural response and learning how to self-regulate. The goal of these techniques isn't necessarily to eliminate the fear but to regulate and reduce the intensity of the fear response so that you can manage it more effectively.
Sure! When a person experiences anxiety, they may become overwhelmed by the physical and mental sensations that accompany fearful thoughts. In an attempt to regain a sense of control, the person may try to push the thoughts and sensations aside or distract themselves in various ways.Can you elaborate on this please?