TSA Travel Tips

[Skywatcher]

Long story short... I was traveling alone, went through the “naked machine” and got pulled aside. She told me where she was going to touch me (butt, groin, waist, thighs) and asked if I wanted a private location. I said “no.” She was very thorough. I left feeling violated, like I needed to cry/hide and covered up in my sweater. Now I’m still getting random flashbacks. I fly again soon. How do I avoid this?

 

[Rumors]

Fly private....
You can't avoid it. I am shocked they pulled you out from the naked machine. I have plates, screws, and some other ortho things so they pull me out all the time when I fly commercial. I just breathe and try and remember they are just doing a job. Hang in there!!!

 

[Wendell_R]

Do you know what metal or other object that you had that led them to pull you aside? If you have internal metal, I don't know what you could do. But if you have things like metal buttons, etc., maybe it helps to carefully choose your outfit to minimize the chance of being checked.

 

[Skywatcher]

I have no metal. Just a left over fat roll from having a large baby many years ago.

 

[FauxLiz]

TSA is required to randomly pull individuals out for additional screening there really isn’t much that can be done in that case.

I completely understand how awful and violating it can feel

 

[Ronin]

Stock up on valium / whatever emergency meds helps you with your anxiety, for the afterwards.

I'm afraid there isn't much you can do before.

 

[Freida]

Tell them. "I have ptsd from an assault so please be gentle so you don't throw me into a panic attack". Your not telling them no, or that would aren't cooperating. ...you are advising them of a medical condition and asking for a very slight accommodation.

If you were just a random number they don't need to do a totally invasive search. If you travel a lot you might look into the PRE program...they do a background check ahead of time and you get to skip most of security brouhaha

 

[Skywatcher]

I don’t think it was random. The lady in line after me, with my body type, loudly told them she has metal in her legs. They didn’t check her at all. And they focused on my legs, groin and waist area, they didn’t check anywhere above my waist. The lady was doing it in a professional manner, but I haven’t found anyone that was touched between their legs as I was, or maybe my mind is connecting stuff to csa and I don’t know how I was actually touched. (Which leads to the whole people not understanding or believing me emotions) I’m feeling angry at my abuser today. I did emdr stuff on him last week and was starting to feel angry at him, but I thought I had finished processing that scene. And my loops on this are starting to build and I want it all to just go away. I fly twice next week, but at least my husband will be with me. I don’t know if I can tell them about the ptsd. It’s not even about being gentle. Some of CSA is gentle. When the lady said what she was going to do to me as she went... that happened in both of my big traumas. Wow, I guess I am identifying the triggers, now.