I Can't Get It Out Of My Head

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

A relatively minor (in the grand scheme of things) happened yesterday that really scared me. I went into a dissociative state and got away from the place. But now the image is stuck in my head and I keep flashing back to it again and again. Then, I go back to an earlier trauma and have sort of flashbacks about that. I say sort of because I have incorporated yesterday's image into the original trauma to fill in a missing gap. I am sorry if that doesn't make sense, I am not being specific because I don't want to trigger anyone else or myself (anymore than I already am). I just want the image to go away, I didn't need to fill in that missing gap with my imagination. I remember enough and replay enough in my usual flashbacks. I wish I knew a strategy for ending the flashback from yesterday.

 

[shimmerz]

@JEKBreatheandBelieve I don't know if it will help but for myself I tend to focus on what 'sense' the flashback hit me the most in (hearing, seeing, smelling, tactile, etc). I then try to break it by incorporating a stronger sense of that same sense into the flashback). I try to use my voice so that I can incorporate as many senses as I can in overriding the affected sense. I also try to use tactile so that I can feel (not sure if you get what I mean by this).

I find that when I flash it is all about my senses not being able to let go of something. So for instance I used to react very badly to the sound of children crying. I would run across streets without looking (almost got hit twice). I looked up a youtube video and found a scene of a loving caring aunt and mother who helped a child get over his fear of a carwash. Now when I hear a child cry, I call up that image whenever I can (although sometimes I am a bit too deep in it before I can call it up). It isn't foolproof but it has helped a ton.

No idea if I am making sense in this post for what happened to you - as I don't know the details and commend you for knowing not to retrigger yourself and your thoughtfullness of not wanting to trigger others, but on the slim chance it may help, I just thought I would put it out there.

Warmest thoughts
Shimmerz

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

No idea if I am making sense in this post for what happened to you - as I don't know the details and commend you for knowing not to retrigger yourself and your thoughtfulness of not wanting to trigger others, but on the slim chance it may help, I just thought I would put it out there.

Thanks. I think that it makes sense. I think the strongest sense is visual so I need to think of something else to incorporate visually, but I am not sure what would work. Something to think about though.