I'm Stuck And Trapped Forever.

[Jen93]

I can't stop crying. I'm so tired of this. I hate my flashbacks, other people hate my bluntness. I can't handle this. I hate people. I hate them trying to tell me who to be to accommodate them. They tell me I delude myself into thinking everybody's going to take care of me and I'll be stuck in the real world... Little do they know I feel stuck in hell right now.

I need some alternatives right now. I have no plan, so that's good; but I just need some alternatives and ways to calm myself down. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I don't want to feel like this again. I just talked to my mother but that didn't really help. I need something to tide me over this mountain. Please help.

 

[anonymous]

I hate people too. Can you say f*ck them all for right now and focus on yourself?

 

[Beachlife09]

It's gonna be okay. i feel this way practically everyday, but we're survivors- we can't give in to our despair.

I just need some alternatives and ways to calm myself down

My suggestions are: Pray, listen to comforting music, color (seriously, just pick up a piece of paper and a pencil or crayon and just go for it), and let yourself cry and mourn for as long as you need and then take a nap.

i promise things won't always be so bleak :hug:

 

[joeylittle]

Here are some other suggestions: Distract. Figure out what can just move you and your mind through time. I'm totally incapable of doing anything self-soothing or nice for myself, so I depend entirely on distraction. Crossword puzzles, reality TV, washing dishes, just walking around the house putting things away, driving, going for a walk, playing with my cats or grooming them, cooking something simple but time consuming, like applesauce.

That's my list. All those things take some mental awareness for me, and I can use that to just pay attention to them and tune out everything else. I think this is what many people listen to music for, to get something in their heads other than their own thoughts. For some reason distraction activities do that for me.

It takes some experimenting to find things that work. Whatever you try - set a timer and do it for 10 minutes - 5 if you are really agitated. If nothing has changed in your level of upset after 5 minutes, try a new thing. Keep your mind occupied. The intensity will lessen.

 

[Intrepid]

I've gone through a lot of cycles between feeling like you do (ugh!) and feeling pretty normal. Flashbacks are awful. I used to wish them on other people, but of course that's pretty mean.

Today I got hit pretty hard. I was angry at everyone, especially with a few people in authority. It took me a while to even see that I was flashing back. One of those people in authority triggered me and I spun into my old hatred. After I took a nap and had a bad dream about it, I came to see that there were 8 things that happened over the last 2 days that built up to get me flooded. Once I recognized these things I was able to put them to bed and finish my day without that hatred ruining everything. (I'm sure a few of these 8 issues will wake up tomorrow refreshed and ready to knock me on my butt again.)

I don't know if this will tide you over. Just take care of one thing at a time.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

I second distraction. I also second napping when things are feeling super awful - it can work as a reset (at least for me). And I like the timer idea. I've never done that, but I think that it sounds super helpful.