Fireworks & Combat PTSD

[Marine0311]

A very common trigger. Ear plugs at night when you go to bed is the best thing I can think of to help out. Very Jumpy this weekend as most combat vets are. Just do your best to take yourself down a notch and remember people are going to be setting off fireworks.

Take Care!

 

[trapped]

Thanks for posting this! I don't have combat PTSD, but a lot of my issues are related to gunshots and robberies and such and the fireworks are the most horrible trigger ever for me. I've been really struggling with keeping myself safe today. It's so tempting to go out and buy some booze and some sleeping pills and just get through the day that way like I have the past 8 or so years... trying to cope in positive ways this time though. I've been trying to watch movies this morning, only I found I was starting to zone out and dissociate a tiny bit, even without really feeling triggered- I think my mind is so worried about the fireworks tonight, it's just trying to dissociate before that even happens, to isolate itself somehow in an attempt to feel safe... not sure if that's just me or if anyone else has ever had that experience. I think I'm going to go for a swim, it's nice out, people shouldn't be doing fireworks til later on today so it should be safe to be out (and worse case scenario, it's not like the pool in my backyard is that far from my bedroom, so having a flashback near the pool shouldn't be too bad- for some reason though, I'm always afraid of having them outside, especially if no one is around). I have a new therapist I talked to yesterday who is checking up on me at some random unknown time, I have friends who I have scheduled a regular time to check in with... hoping all of that together will keep me safe. But there is a firework show at the colleges that are literally right across the street from me. It's a really long like 40+minute show, and I don't know how I'm going to survive that unless I'm asleep by then, but I'm worried that even if I'm asleep the noise may wake me up.

 

[Gunchief]

It is an issue for some of us though. Spent quite a bit of time working with FOs in the artillery. EVERYTIME one of those rockets that whistles goes up or someone lofts a mortar the old instincts kick in. Some people laugh but a short arty round is NOT FUNNY.

Enjoy your fourth but more sparklers please.

Dave

 

[Marine0311]

Fell alseep early with no ear plugs..... Forgot real quick how bad it gets around here.... I'm in War Mode..... Maybe I wait until 0300 and go out and shoot off some real stuff. You dont know how hard this short message was to type without putting in 4 letter love words of endearment!

Jesus.... !

 

[veritas]

I don't have combat PTSD, but loud noises, explosions, etc. are a major trigger for me. That said, I have been in hypervigilant mode for the past few days... :eek:

Fortunately, fireworks are banned where I am currently staying, although I heard they make exceptions for the holiday. I'm doing my best to brace myself atm... I've spent the past two days buzzed on my meds, and I really don't want to abuse my drugs anymore.

I keep thinking that the more I think about it, the more I envision the fireworks, the less triggered I will be. I don't know. Fingers crossed.

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Seems to vary year to year for me. Some years I can handle fireworks ok, others I just can't go outside or I'll start going into fight-or-flight mode. This year I didn't mind, although I could feel my heart start to go pitter-patter in my chest.

 

[outlaw1975]

Fireworks

Took my girls to see the fireworks but on the way back home i was passing house along the way home, and some of the stuff going off gave me flashbacks of iraq. Everything from ak fireing off at my truck to the light flash of a IED going off. But then my wife reminded me that it was only fireworks and I suddenly came back to life. I'm new to this site and I hoping that telling my events with others going through the same problems will help me and others.

 

[rmf3175]

Not as bad as usual on the 4th, but I've prepared myself more with the expectation of it over the past few days too. :clap:

 

[Gunchief]

Someone lit off something that rattled the windows and shook the house. That woke me up for a while but more interested in knowing what the hell it was?

 

[kers]

Fireworks set me off because they remind me of someone banging on a door to get in. I had a pretty easy time of it this year. I've lived in my house for several years, so I know what time to expect the community fireworks. It's the random neighborhood ones, which started last week and continued today, that get to me.

 

[her_indoors43]

I see sparklers got a mention. Just note on them...my niece was at a birthday party...she was about 10 years old at the time. And they all had their winter flano's pjs on. Now after few washes the flano pjs tend toget few balls of fluff over them...

Now my niece was off burning sparklers with the kids, when a spark hit her flanno pjs and she caught on fire. Lucky my niece remembered the stop, drop and roll ads they had on tv so she did just that and put out her pjs while the rest of the 10 year olds are screaming their lungs out, which alerted the parents upstairs having coffee. My niece was ok, she didnt get burned, as she dropped and rolled as soon as. The lady's carpet got huge burn mark...so, kid...flanno's and sparklers are dangerous...:naughty:

 

[Perdido]

Thanks for posting this. My PTSD resulted from a gunshot in my kitchen two decades ago that killed a friend.

I detest fireworks because of the anxiety and jolting fear they spark. I flinch with every blast, big or small. It drives me nuts, filling my body with adrenaline and a heavy dose of reality -- reminding me that I'm sick with (and of) PTSD.