I am diagnosed w cptsd and ptsd, what brought me to this website is my first intense flashback that I am struggling to stay out of. It started 2 days ago and I feel I am stuck in between, have had nightmares, I don't feel safe w anyone, I am flooded by memories, hear the person that attacked me and see him from the corners of my eyes. I feel like I'm going crazy and I can't breathe. And I've never had this intense of an urge to just run away from everything. I came across this site in a panic bc I'm not sure what to do? I reached out to my therapist and didn't get much helpful feedback and I explained to my family and friend what was halleneing only to have the subject changed, which I get bc I'm not sure I'd know how to respond. I just feel overly tense and I don't know how to make this stop.
-
We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
-
Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.
Sufferer Need help with flashbacks and intrusive memories
- Post starter Kopykat
- Start date
- Status
Justmehere
Sponsor
Welcome to the forums!
The first thing I'd recommend is grounding, to connect to this present moment, here and now. PTSD symptoms like what you describe happen when the brain is trying to protect you from the trauma of the past. The more you can connect to the here and now, the more the symptoms might lessen.
Here are two good resources:
16 Grounding Techniques That Help With My PTSD and Anxiety
And
Dead Link Removed
One of my go-to grounding techniques is to seek out safe strong sensations. For me, holding a frozen water bottle or ice will work, or eating sour or minty candy or spicey food. The idea is that it gently and safely brings me to there and right now, and severe panic and etc will often calm down for me.
Dis you reach out to your therapist ijbetween sessions or in session? If it was in between sessions, I'd be sure to bring it up in session next time. If it was in session, be sure to tell her your concerns about how they responded.
In the meantime, consider googling to see if there is a warm line in your area. Warm lines help people who are in rough spot, but not a life threatening one that should go to a hotline.
The first thing I'd recommend is grounding, to connect to this present moment, here and now. PTSD symptoms like what you describe happen when the brain is trying to protect you from the trauma of the past. The more you can connect to the here and now, the more the symptoms might lessen.
Here are two good resources:
16 Grounding Techniques That Help With My PTSD and Anxiety
And
Dead Link Removed
One of my go-to grounding techniques is to seek out safe strong sensations. For me, holding a frozen water bottle or ice will work, or eating sour or minty candy or spicey food. The idea is that it gently and safely brings me to there and right now, and severe panic and etc will often calm down for me.
Dis you reach out to your therapist ijbetween sessions or in session? If it was in between sessions, I'd be sure to bring it up in session next time. If it was in session, be sure to tell her your concerns about how they responded.
In the meantime, consider googling to see if there is a warm line in your area. Warm lines help people who are in rough spot, but not a life threatening one that should go to a hotline.
Nyssa
Silver Member
Welcome to the forums.
I am sorry you are going through this.
Were you taught any grounding techniques to deal with flashbacks?
Here is a list of common techniques
http://www.get.gg/flashbacks.htm
You will find more on this topic in the section "Dissociation, Depersonalization & derealization" of the forums
Hope you'll get better.
I am sorry you are going through this.
Were you taught any grounding techniques to deal with flashbacks?
Here is a list of common techniques
http://www.get.gg/flashbacks.htm
You will find more on this topic in the section "Dissociation, Depersonalization & derealization" of the forums
Hope you'll get better.
ladee
VIP Member
Lots of great information shared with you by others... Grounding, the only thing that works for me at the time it is going on... I HAVE to find a self caring way to bring me back to here and now... one that is safe... mine is 'touch' , to find something that is grounding... I have a big piece of petrified wood I keep to help ground me.. it has all kinds of edges , smooth and rough and different textures... I close my eyes and just feel all over that rock.... you will hear many more suggestions, and sometimes we stumble upon something that really works for us...
You are not crazy, you are healing... and yes, that feels 'f*cked up', but not a lot about PTSD makes sense, so we are free to find what works for us... hope you are doing better now and remember you are not alone and we do understand...:hug:
You are not crazy, you are healing... and yes, that feels 'f*cked up', but not a lot about PTSD makes sense, so we are free to find what works for us... hope you are doing better now and remember you are not alone and we do understand...:hug:
- Post starter
- #5
Thank you all for your replies. This is actually the first time I've experienced a full flashback from ptsd and it really took me by surprise. I was writing a very brief and simple timeline for my lawyer and therapist, simple enough, and then later it just started. Little things at first and now I just want to run away.
I reached out in between sessions. I've been trying to see if there's groups or anything around me but there aren't. The closest ones are over 40 miles away. I guess I thought I was over this part. I've not had a flashback w this incident but I did have a rough time dealing w it. It's been 11 months since the incident. It has been an ongoing legal battle too. I was very surprised by my reaction, w how much I feel the need to run, to pack a bag and go. And also my immediate and intense feelings of distrust w people even my family and friends. This sounds weird but i now feel I need to prepare and train for a fight...which I need to get in shape so maybe that's not terrible. This is all overwhelming. I will look at the grounding techniques. Thank you.
I reached out in between sessions. I've been trying to see if there's groups or anything around me but there aren't. The closest ones are over 40 miles away. I guess I thought I was over this part. I've not had a flashback w this incident but I did have a rough time dealing w it. It's been 11 months since the incident. It has been an ongoing legal battle too. I was very surprised by my reaction, w how much I feel the need to run, to pack a bag and go. And also my immediate and intense feelings of distrust w people even my family and friends. This sounds weird but i now feel I need to prepare and train for a fight...which I need to get in shape so maybe that's not terrible. This is all overwhelming. I will look at the grounding techniques. Thank you.
Thank you
Last edited by a moderator:
EveHarrington
VIP Member
Welcome! :)
- Status
Similar posts
Donation drives
Trending content
-
-
What Are You Feeling Today? Not Thinking, Rather Feeling! Can You Identify Yours?
- goingonhope
Comments: 34K -
-
-
-
Latest posts
-
-
-
What Are You Feeling Today? Not Thinking, Rather Feeling! Can You Identify Yours?
- Latest: Seraphine fatal
-
