Going To The Cinema..

[Deleted member 26072]

Hi, I'm new and I'll start by saying I'm not diagnosed with PTSD. However, looking on this site and multiple others, as well as checking symptoms etc, both me and my boyfriend are pretty confident I do suffer from it.

Because of what happened to me 3 years ago, I have a massive problem with men. Anyone of the male gender, I am terrified of. I have managed to begin to trust my boyfriend's dad, and of course, I trust and can talk etc, to my boyfriend (that itself took months of persitance from him).

Anyways, I love the cinemas and movies and love the whole experience. But lately, my PTSD symptoms have been getting worse and me and my boyfriend went to the cinema last month, we ended up having to leave before the trailers ended because there were so many people and so many men sat near us. I panicked and got terrified immediately and so we left..

Now, I have been invited to the cinemas with my boyfriend, his mum and his little brother to go see a movie I have wanted to see for ages. But, I'm scared. Especially because his mum and little brother are there and I don't want to look silly panicking in front of them and I don't want his little brother to end up having questions and all that jazz. His mum is a nurse and she kind of knows I have issues, but doesn't know anything in detail so I know that I'd be fine and they'd understand. But the thought of being in the cinema and paniking it's making me panic now.

The movie is at 1pm. Today. -__-
To make things better, my boyfriend is the most unorganised person ever so I only found out today which hasn't given me much time to not panic about it..

Does anyone have any tips on how to not panic or how to calm myself down in the case I do?

 

[joeygn72]

In my opinion (I could be wrong and I often am LOL) unless you know what you suffer from it's hard to say what will calm you down. I have PTSD and a dissociative disorder and it took my therapist and I a while to figure out which grounding technique worked for me. Maybe someone else has an idea but theres no quick fix. Id say until you explore with a trained professional and not someone like me who's guessing try what I tried at first which was to close my eyes and breath through my nose only and pay attention to my breathing. If what you're experiencing is having a serious impact on your daily functioning you might want to seek help.....Peace

 

[joeygn72]

I just wanted to also say this. That "calming" or "grounding" techniques take time to develop. It's not something someone is going to be able to tell you how to do and you're good to go. The techniques I use took time to develop..

 

[Bim]

:) first off, you said you were not diagnosed with having PTSD - which I think is very important that you should be diagnosed by a professional because even if you and your boyfriend think that you are showing manifestations of having one, it could be something else. But as for today's movie date panic - if you feel it's very important that you go then brave it... Breathing exercise should help calm you down, hold your boyfriend's hand to give you that feeling of security, be reminded that his mom is a nurse and will not be baffled in case you show... And try to focus on the more positive things. Or you can talk to your boyfriend early today that you just are not ready to be in the cinema today. He will understand. :)

 

[Justmehere]

If you have PTSD, or even any anxiety issue, things like holding ice, deep breathing, thinking of a safe place - those things might help calm you. Those are just short term band-aids.

If you have PTSD, things won't really get better until you process the trauma,

Getting therapy is probably the best long term solution. Especially since this is impacting something you love to do.

Self diagnosis of a major mental illness through the internet is not a good idea. But, I can also understand and appreciate your heart to find solutions and explanations for what you are experiencing and struggling with.

 

[Deleted member 26072]

Thanks for your replies. Firstly, I'm not self-diagnosing. I know I need to seek a professionals opinion and I am finding out ways to do that in my local area. All I am saying is that PTSD could be likely, COULD, because I do show all the symptoms. But for now, I'm not saying I have PTSD.. just the symptoms, which like you said, could be something else.

I went to the movies and I was fine with the people, it was more the movie itself which triggered memories and such, which my boyfriend noticed and calmed me down without anyone seeing, so that was okay.

 

[joeygn72]

Certain movies do that to me.

 

[Deleted member 26072]

joeygn72 @ Yes, it's a pain in the ass. :(

 

[joshua_]

Challenge the fear. When you feel yourself starting to panic, embrace it, and try to panic as much as you can. Try to get all of the panic out of your system and get yourself as wound up as possible. Give yourself a time limit to sit quietly and get all of the panic out. Don't fear the panic, but welcome it as a friend and accept it.

Also, this should go away with time and I think the best you can do right now is exposure therapy. I used to freak out every time I saw something that reminded me of my trauma and I'm fine now. Maybe walk into a room full of people including men (grocery store for example) and expose yourself to the phobia. Make sure your boyfriend or someone else you trust is there with you. Then, when you get comfortable with that, try doing it without someone you trust there.

 

[joeygn72]

????? Bad advice as far as I'm concerned. No offense Joshua, that might work for some but I'd suggest seeking help to navigate this. Don't go commando.... But what do I know right! Reckless advice.

 

[joshua_]

It worked for me and my phobias and it's what professionals tell me.

 

[joeygn72]

Phobias are different than PTSD or dissociative episodes.