Help with PTSD anniversary

[Moonchild]

Hi y’all,

I’ve been struggling with increased panic attacks, flashbacks/nightmares, and SI recently. My CPTSD is from childhood SA and I don’t know why, but this year the anniversary time has hit harder than in the past. My friends aren’t always available to talk to (which I completely understand they are busy and feel awful to bother them in the first place) so my T encouraged me to post on here. I guess I’m just looking for support, encouragement or coping skills that have been helpful when your PTSD symptoms flare up. It’s bittersweet knowing that I’m not alone in dealing with this.

 

[arfie]

hello moonchild. welcome to the forum.

this year the anniversary time has hit harder than in the past.

among the many analogies i like for my own psych symptoms is a garden hose. the waters of my life run free and smooth most of the time, but every so often an unseen kink or blockage causes the hose water to block and stop. if i leave it be, the water backup will eventually split the hose at some unpredictable moment and. . . BINGO! ! ! major water spurtage everywhere. man the mops and buckets.

I guess I’m just looking for support, encouragement or coping skills that have been helpful when your PTSD symptoms flare up. It’s bittersweet knowing that I’m not alone in dealing with this.

visiting this very site on what to do when the spurts start to spurting. the bittersweet of knowing i'm not alone does, indeed, help.
welcome aboard.

 

[Freddyt]

Welcome @Moonchild !!

Yup - suffered from anniversaries before I knew what they were. It's a difficult time. What I found really helpful? Were two things here.

The Social part of the forum. Just be you. Join in the games. Post what you ate last (good for reminding you to eat, or giving you ideas when you just are not hungry. Join in the Turn Away from Dissociation thread - just go to the last post, read the word and post a word you associate with the last word posted. There are threads for pets, and art and about anything you can think of - and because we sleep like you - there's always someone here to discuss, post, whatever.
You will find people you like and Forum friends can be even more helpful than real friends because we all "get it" when it comes to PTSD.

Second are the Trauma Diaries, you can have a private and a public. Public ones can be great - people who are "in the same place" often share help, insights, and encouragement. Plus its a great place to get whats on your mind out. I find at times I solve my own problems by just writing it all out, and getting it off my mind.

Apart from that - there is help - just be careful what you read as some stuff my be disturbing. If it feels "AHHHH" stay away and go other places.

 

[Movingforward10]

Anniversary times:

it can get better.

What helps to remind you that you are here, now, safe?

i found that speaking out loud to myself helped. Hearing my adult voice as opposedto being a child. Helped to remember I’m adult, safe etc.
thought stopping.
and maybe just being kind to yourself,

 

[Freddyt]

The very first thing is learning mitigation of your anxiety. One thing that helped me most when I first got here was this:

The ptsd cup explanation

Nearly a decade ago (2006) I wrote The PTSD Cup Explanation, a simple view of how PTSD causes symptoms in day-to-day life. This article is an update to that original piece. Regardless of the type of trauma endured, the PTSD Cup does not change, deviate or apply differently to your circumstance...

www.myptsd.com

Easy to tell I had PTSD as the "all stress is stress" was a bit mind blowing back then.

Then find your thing to help mitigate your anxiety. I started with grounding stuff. It really worked well. Commit to doing it and sometimes - your T asks what your thinking and "I'm kn your office - I'm safe,......." comes out.