How do i cope with flashbacks?

[Ryanna]

I keep having severe flashbacks and it’s ruining my everyday life. I was sexually abused for years and although I’m now physically free I’m not mentally free. I keep getting different types of flashbacks... ones where I can feel it happening, ones where I can smell taste and hear everything again and ones where I just freeze and panic because my body won’t allow me to move. Does anyone else get this? And if so how do you deal with it? I keep getting these and I can’t live day to day without worrying about it. It’s caused my depression and anxiety to go through the roof and I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions?

 

[somerandomguy]

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Are you currently in therapy?

 

[EveHarrington]

Do you know any grounding skills?

 

[80 nutsack]

I keep having severe flashbacks and it’s ruining my everyday life. I was sexually abused for years and although I’m...

I was abused for years. Ive ruined my life because of this. I have the same flash backs as you. I turned to drink. Which after so many years im finally getting help. But i feel its to late as ive lost everything.. It started when i was 6 years old & still i feel the bad person. Ive been diagnosed with ptsd & borderline personality disorder. Allso i live in a dv refuge. The abuse to me has not stopped. I feel lost. I wish i add the anser for you. All i can say is your not alone with what your going thru. I hope you get the support you need & im still waiting :-\

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, this is PTSD. My sympathies.

 

[Sweetleaf]

Does anyone else get this?

Yes, I have those things happen to me too.

This whole last week I have repeatedly felt like I have semen in my nose - both like, feel-wise and smell/taste wise. Body memories can really suck. But, a lot of us have the stuff you described going on, or have experienced it in the past. You're not alone. Sorry that you have to experience these things still :(
:hug:

For me, EMDR helped tone down some of the body sensations, though it hasn't been able to remove them entirely, yet. For example: prior to having EMDR on the relevant target memory, the semen-in-my nose stuff used to be more intense - it would make me gag, have a choking sensation, feel nauseous, and it would make me want to vomit. It would feel my head was being shoved down on his dick - hand on the back of it and everything. Now it's just like, the semen in my nose, and it doesn't happen as often. I just have had a cold or something and the extra snot is doing it, I think.

Even though the sensations are happening - it also helps me to remind myself "this is not real. that stuff is not happening right now. that shit is all over, it's done, that was then, this is now. I am not there anymore. I am here and now, and I am safe." etc. - just basically reminding myself it's okay that that shit is happening, and it's not real, and it'll go away, because I am not actually having it happen. Sometimes it helps, sometimes I just have to sit through it for a while, try to distract myself, etc.

 

[Ryanna]

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Are you currently in therapy?

I was but for reasons that are out of my hands I have to go 6 months with no therapy at all.

Do you know any grounding skills?

Yes I do but for various reasons, typical question asking grounding skills don’t work for me, I have to use physical items to ground myself, some of which are difficult to get to quickly when I feel myself having one.

I was abused for years. Ive ruined my life because of this. I have the same flash backs as you. I turned to drin...

Hi,
I can completely empathise with you as mine started at the same age as you, I hope that you get the help that you need and that it gets easier for you.

Yes, I have those things happen to me too.

This whole last week I have repeatedly felt like I have s...

Thank you for you’re advice, I hope you continue to be able to control it and get through it.

 

[EveHarrington]

Keep trying new grounding techniques. There are far more than questions and physical objects.

 

[Ryanna]

Keep trying new grounding techniques. There are far more than questions and physical objects.[/QU...

Okay I will do... thank you so much

 

[shimmerz]

I travel around with an aroma container with essential oil blends in them. Brings me back to earth right away.

 

[Joan]

I am so sorry you are struggling with flashbacks. They suck. It sounds like you know some physical things work better for you to ground....keep experimenting and find something that works for you to carry with you... a texture...some like smooth, some rough...a rock, fabric, etc. For me I know the more I worried about having a flashback, fought against them...the worse it was. I had to come to a point that I had to accept them, they are out of my control...can't give you a formula how to get there...it is hard and I still struggle, but the less I fight the better. Take sweet care of yourself.

 

[Ryanna]

I travel around with an aroma container with essential oil blends in them. Brings me back to earth ri...

Someone else has actually said to me that that works as well, I may try it :-) thank you