Fight or flight anxiety

[Placebo]

I was on an anti psychotic, but it made my period stop, and I started losing my hair, so I have to get off of it. It did make me sleep 12-14 hours a night and if I didn't I'd feel bad sick all day. But, it made me emotionally numb and made everything ok. I didn't think much, and just watched one tv series over and over in my free time. I wasn't ever upset with bad emotions, or physical feelings in fact i was pretty much dull all around. I now am on only a mood stabilizer and antidepressant antianxiety as my shrink couldn't really give me anything else because of side effects.
I was fine until I moved and due to stress I went into fight or flight, which now that the move is done has caused me to go into really bad ptsd. Its painful because I'm reliving the trauma and no matter what my thoughts keep going back to it.
What are ways you deal with the physical pain in flashbacks of psychological torture? Deep breaths help, but it seems like I forget to or can't breath.

 

[LanaD]

I'm just wondering if what worked for me might work for you. I relived my trauma in therapy and yes, it was really horrible but things got better afterwards. I still struggle but it's nothing like it used to be. Thing is, if we keep pushing memories away they will always be there haunting us, so we can only live in this numb state of feeling nothing.

 

[Placebo]

I've done a lot of therapy. But, I am currently looking for a new therapists. I've healed from a lot. I am just looking for other techniques. Like a therapist taught me seeped timed breating. And another the importance of schedule regularity and physical health. Also meditation techniques, but I can always learn more. So thank you for sharing what worked for you. I'm on it. I do need a new therapists as mine retired a while back.

**Sorry deep breathing techniques.... auto correct isn't always correct.

 

[Sideways]

I was fine until I moved and due to stress I went into fight or flight, which now that the move is done has caused me to go into really bad ptsd.

This is where I think I’d focus energy.

You sound like you have a tonne of grounding and calming techniques to slow down the fight/flight response when it happens. Stick with what works for you.

Moving home is one of the most stressful experiences that any human can go through, so it makes perfect sense that your symptoms have spiked, including flashbacks.

So, perhaps put some energy into bringing your baseline stress level (how stressed you feel when you wake up in the morning, or when you’re calmest) back down to qhat it was before you moved and your symptoms spiked.

The difference is subtle: working on our baseline stress level isn’t reactive stuff that we do to bring down our stress like when we have a panic attack or something. It’s stuff that regulates our overall stress level that we’re carrying around 24/7. Things that help with this are working on our sleep hygiene and bedtime routine, introducing a 30 minute relaxation session in the afternoon, getting a bit more exercise, doing a bit more art regularly, soending extra time preparing different healthier meals if cooking is your thing - whatever it is that you find calms your system down.

Bringing the stress back down to what it was before you moved should help your symptoms settle back to what they were before.

 

[shimmerz]

I did thought replacement when I experience thoughts that just kept jamming me.I had a thought already laid out that I would just keep repeating over and over and over again and it was a more positive slant in life.

Mine was based on something called H’oponopono. Specifically the phrase is I’m sorry, I love you, please forgive me, thank you.

It got to the point where I didn’t even have to think about it before the freeze would come up and it changed my state immediately.

The phrase isn’t for everyone but perhaps you can make up one of your own. The key is in training it during times where you were feeling stronger to cause a positive shift.

 

[RussellSue]

I never have been able to do a lot of breathing exercises consistently. One thing that helps in the moment, though, is if I tightly clench all of my muscles while I pull in a deep breath and hold it until I cannot. Once I am breathing again there is a lot less tension. Sometimes I have to do it more than once.
Cardio really helps me with PTSD stuff. It makes me feel stronger and more capable: like I might kick that trauma's ass.