Very Frightened Please Help!

[Paula2]

Hi all,

Thank you firstly for reading. I read this article this morning about a woman with PTSD who jumped off a 2 storey carpark building during a flashback. It's really scared me, because sometimes I find myself in a different room after a flashback and I have no idea how I got there. How likely is it that someone could really hurt themselves during a flashback? I am going through a lot of pain and literally living a nightmare at the moment BUT I do not want to harm myself in anyway .. I want to be safe. How can I ensure that I am?

Thank you in advance, you lovely people x

 

[PoopyPTSD]

You need to ground yourself. I hope you are seeing a therapist. The only way I would know of, if you can't do it yourself.... Is a PTSD dog.

 

[Ronin]

Hi @Paula2

Is there anywhere safe you can go to until your reactions ease up? Or support people that could be with you where you are?

 

[PoopyPTSD]

Or go somewhere safe, lol, that does seems more convenient

 

[KwanYingirl]

Practice safe place. In learning to use grounding techniques and to be able to transport your mind to its safe place, you will become less dissociative. Over the years I have harmed myself during flashbacks. Fortunately none were fatal. Also, learn to recognize your triggers. Then they won't sneak up on you and freak you out. And how does anyone really know that the woman was in a flashback?

 

[Paula2]

Does a cbt therapist help? And what is a ptsd dog?

 

[PoopyPTSD]

Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, (CBT) I would highly recommend one that uses EMDR. A PTSD dog, is a service dog that knows when you are triggered and will do something to ground you back.

 

[Ronin]

Unless your trauma's complex. In which EMDR can be very flooding & is contraindicated as a therapy method.

 

[Paula2]

Thank you all for your responses.

I am currently in Spain for a week, I am doing lots of grounding things.. Other than a few nightmares and a little jumpy, I have had a good week. But I believe this is because I don't have constant smells, sounds or visual reminders. I want to stay here, I don't want to go home on Saturday. That would be totally impractical though! As for practicing my safe place, I will, I just don't seem to be able to use it yet :(

I think that mine is complex. I'm not sure I am ready to trust enough yet to close my eyes in a room with someone else.

Really is a nightmare, isn't it?! One minute my life is going fine... The next it falls apart .. How do you all cope?

 

[StarChild]

I read this article this morning about a woman with PTSD who jumped off a 2 storey carpark building during a flashback.

Hi @Paula2, it would be interesting to learn, where you did read this... - Was it a medical / psychiatric professional journal - Or was it rather kind of yellow press or "antisocial-media" bu** sh*t article? Sorry for being so blunt, but I tend to first question and check such so called articles. What came to my mind, when reading your post was:

• Did the woman survive? If not, how do they know she had a real flashback?
• If yes, who (professional) told the press that she had a "flashback"?
  
• Was she on any kind of drug like LSD, marijuana, alcohol or pills or whatever? OR
• Was she suicidal, but for reasons of self protection, later claimed it to be a flashback?
  
• Did she have mental health problems, or a official formal diagnosis?

Please don't take everything you hear or read, at face value. And: Don't let your mind run wild on such news / stories. By reading several of your posts, I've got the impression, that you're almost on the lookout for such stories, to confirm your fears.

Really is a nightmare, isn't it?! One minute my life is going fine

It is not helpful for you, to tell yourself sentences like this. It has an impact on how you think / perceive daily life.

I think that mine is complex.

Please get an official diagnosis by an acknowledged mental health specialist , not by a GP. And dwelling in "self diagnoses" won't lead you to a healthy healing process.

 

[PoopyPTSD]

That's strange, it has worked wonders for me. I wouldn't be where I am at today without EMDR. It can be hard and challenging but the best thing I have ever done for myself. Everything I've read it's mostly positive. The government uses it on war veterans.

 

[PoopyPTSD]

Believe me mine is Complex..... 6 years off and on EMDR treatment