Getting "stuck" in an emotion?

[Starfire]

So, this is confusing me, so I don't think I can even describe it properly.

I often get "stuck" in an emotion.

Today, it was anger for several hours and sadness for several hours.

I don't think that whatever happened/ caused these emotions was "big" enough to warrant the emotions staying for hours.

It feels a bit like when a CD has a scratch and just keeps skipping over the same bit of the CD... like something gets stuck.

The normal "self-soothing" techniques don't seem to work. The emotion just goes on and on and on and on...

Does anyone else get this/ know what it is/ know what to do about it? Does it have a name? Is it PTSD related?

Thanks

I can relate. That's a great image with the CD. At first my T suggested sitting with it but that transformed into sitting with it when at my session. When he recommended exercising or just getting out & doing something, I thought that was reasonable for anger but found it worked for me for others too. Just have to find what works .....walking dog, nature walk, throwing rocks at trees or into water, cleaning out closet, shredding old mail and papers, errands been putting off, hand washing car or floors, pulling weeds ....whatever works. Take care of yourself.

 

[Survivor3]

So, this is confusing me, so I don't think I can even describe it properly.

I often get "stuck" in an emotion.

Today, it was anger for several hours and sadness for several hours.

I don't think that whatever happened/ caused these emotions was "big" enough to warrant the emotions staying for hours.

It feels a bit like when a CD has a scratch and just keeps skipping over the same bit of the CD... like something gets stuck.

The normal "self-soothing" techniques don't seem to work. The emotion just goes on and on and on and on...

Does anyone else get this/ know what it is/ know what to do about it? Does it have a name? Is it PTSD related?

Thanks

Hi Sophy I understand what you mean and it's very unpleasant. I suffer from a barrage of flashbacks sometimes and it just wares me down so that I feel upset/sad/angry for long periods of time. For myself it's a combination of tolerating and accepting that it will subside eventually and trying to distract myself and trying to change to a more positive thought pattern.