Triggered while a houseguest

[hymnless]

So today I was driving to my in laws for our holiday weekend. As I was driving we went through my mom’s hometown and I saw places that I’d not been in probably 20 years or so. As nice as it was to see all of those things, it stirred up a lot very unexpectedly.

I started thinking a lot about my family and the fact that when my grandfather died my life took a serious turn since my family was grieving and no one was paying attention to what was happening to me. My grandfather had always been my protector and was more of a father to me than my own (who was responsible for the turn for the worst).

Now I’m super triggered and keep going in and out of a dissociative state with some nice panic and reexperiencing mixed in. I’m 5 hours from home with my in laws until Tuesday. Any ideas of how to ground myself to get through that much time?

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Bilateral tapping. Examples on YouTube.

Make sure you go outside each day for 30 minutes. Breathe in the cold air.

Cold water on wrist.

Feel yourself seated in a chair. Feel your feet on the ground, down in your seat, back against chair. Cross arms over chest. Take in a deep breath and tap alternately from shoulder to shoulder.

Drink warm camomile tea.

Imagine Breathing in through your fingers and toes. Feel the air pulling in through the tips of your fingers and toes with each breath.

54321
5 things you see
4 things you feel
3 things you hear
2 things you smell
1 thing good about yourself

Place elbow on knee. Rest your head in the palm of your hand. Relax and breathe.

I am sorry you are struggling. I always forget many grounding things when I am sucked into a swirl of past and present.

 

[Deleted member 541]

How wonderful that your grandfather was your protector. Mine was too. I get what your saying about the day he died and how you felt. I did too. All I can suggest, is that you try and stay grounded in the here and now, and always always remember the love and protection that your grandfather provided you with. Know that he is watching over you even now. I firmly believe that my grandfather is my guardian angel and still protects me, even though he has been gone since 1979.