What Do You Do During Flashbacks?

[Tinyflame]

No, to 'think' about it (or more accurately to not be able to 'not' think about it), are intrusive thoughts.

To be reminded by something physical (a scent, sound sight etc), is a trigger, and associated 'feelings' are attached. It could be an aftershave or a tone of voice or a siren or the way the light hits something, or the color of a carpet etc etc etc, there are endless possibilities. For me it often feels like fleeing (following). That is when you need to apply grounding techniques, recognize it's a trigger, see that your reaction to the present doesn't 'fit' the situation or intensity, -pick it apart to understand and try to identify it and be ready to battle it, next time..

A FB is all of a sudden you are 'there'- I cannot hear outside sounds at that time and my eyes are open but I can only see and feel -re-live- the past moment; just like it 'is' occurring right then, and I am in it. When it stops (just as quickly- it comes on with no warning whatsoever), I am in the 'present' but feel terrified and don't know what I 'did' or how it 'looked'.

Dissociation is all of a sudden 'checking out', feeling not present in your environment or body, like almost massive day-dreaming, often times you don't realize it (miss the conversation, lose moments in time, etc). But it is not a 're-living' of a past particular event.

I am sorry if this is not technical- I don't experience all to the same frequency or intensity- I am sure Anthony or others could better describe it and I'm afraid to give you innacurate info!

 

[Tosh]

A FB is all of a sudden you are 'there'- I cannot hear outside sounds at that time and my eyes are open but I can only see and feel -re-live- the past moment; just like it 'is' occurring right then, and I am in it. When it stops (just as quickly- it comes on with no warning whatsoever), I am in the 'present' but feel terrified and don't know what I 'did' or how it 'looked'.

I have just begun to experience repressed memories this way. Things I forgot for many years of my life, but they are comming back from my childhood. It's like how did I forget that for all those years? Images begin flashing before my eyes, it's almost as if I am looking down at myself during some of the flashbacks. It was quite traumatizing.

I spent alot of time yesterday in my "safe place". For me I go into a beautiful forest, I'm walking along a path and I come upon a waterfall. I sit next to the waterfall, I feel the cool mist on my face, the birds singing, sunlight trickling through the treetops, I watch the ripples on the clear water. Of course this place is only in my mind. I don't even think about it, I am just there when I need to be. I ended up there after the flashback was over. I don't know what I do during the flashback, I have only experienced it lasting a couple minutes.

All I have to share is my experience, and I'm new to coping and repressed memories/flashbacks. I don't know if there is a difference.

 

[Tinyflame]

I believe there can be, in so far as one has to determine if a memory is just no longer repressed or is 'false': that is our mind has filled in pieces that didn't occur.
They have lots of articles somewhere here on that.

I can only say for myself, I have noticed that my memories are highly state-dependent: that is, sometimes I can only recall whole chunks of time when I am (I suppose) just as horrified or terrified (in the present) as I was when it originally occurred years earlier. Then, when I am not- I can't again! But the memories are coroborated by evidence, I have no doubt they were so, but for the life of me they just aren't 'there' if I try to recall them.

Once, it took about 20 years to recall some memories, -which I thought great- so that's what I thought/ felt- only to have them disappear the next day and never arise again! :confused:
-Go figure.

 

[Bordo66]

Hmm, I haven't really payed attention to the flashback parts, maybe I wasn't aware of it. I guess the next time it happens ill think about it.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Hi BloominWinter
What the F*** are you supposed to do then, if I wasn't scared enough going out into public places in case I see him or an "acquaintance" then this could happen and I wouldn't have a clue what had happened to me

I had to laugh at your response because I'm pretty sure this is the exact wording I used with my T. :P

It will get better. Read all you can on dissociation.

The skills used to get out of dissociation...and to prevent it...are;

• grounding
• mindfulness
• relaxation
• distraction
• assertiveness
• ...and many, many more

I'm in DBT to help me get and practice those skills. It takes real time in the real world to learn how to deal with and prevent this.

...and once you deal with your trauma, the triggers that drive up your activation level into where your adrenalized psyche needs to hit the 'cut off switch' will be MUCH less powerful.

These skills CAN be learned by anyone. Thankfully, or I'd not have a chance.

The process begins by speaking kindly to yourself...by sharing, finding safe people to trust in. Taking good self-care measures.

You're WELL on your way to a happier life just but turning towards this instead of avoiding.

You are not alone on this journey. You have friends, allies, and witnesses now. Use us. :>

(((((((Livergirl)))))))

 

[starshine]

Dissociative flashbacks are when part of your mind's trapped in the past and experiencing it, whilst 'going through the motions' in the present. Dissociation is disconnection in the broadest sense - and when in a flashback it is a disconnection between the past and the present. In a sense, all flashbacks are pretty much dissociative. But whatsoever it causes disruption and distress in the present.

 

[Tosh]

But the memories are coroborated by evidence, I have no doubt they were so, but for the life of me they just aren't 'there' if I try to recall them.

Mine are definatley collaborated by evidence, but I can recall them now that the flashback is over. Does this make a difference?

 

[BloomInWinter]

Thanks, Starshine! Hadn't realized that...

 

[moondust]

Hi All,
The first dissociative flashback I had scared the heck out of me too. In fact, I didn't even know I had one until a few days later then I remembered. When I do this I lose all sense of time and place. The longest this has happend to me is a week. These are all related to my trauma history. Grounding usually helps if I catch it early.

 

[Tinyflame]

Mine are definatley collaborated by evidence, but I can recall them now that the flashback is over. Does this make a difference?

No, I can remember the FB I can't remember some memories unless I'm in the same emotional state.

 

[Powder]

At age eleven, I totally "lost time" dissociated for three full days in bed. I got out of bed, thinking I had been in bed just the one night, and found out from everyone I had spent three full days in bed. I had come out to use the bathroom in a dazed state, like a zombie. My sister tried talking to me, but I was apparently unresponsive. I didn't drink much water, and waking that fourth? day, I was very thirsty. This is the longest I have D'd.

However, a couple months later, when I first started menstruating, I experienced menstrual pain in excess and D'd as I was walking past a window in the dining room. Suddenly, though I was still walking and could sense my feet and legs moving on "autopilot" I had no control of them. I entered "WHITE LIGHT SPACE" is all I can describe it as. It was very peaceful and calming, and I felt no more pain. At the moment, I hoped this is what it feels like to by dying. Because though I was alone, I felt safe, no pain, numb, and peaceful. Heavenly, until I walked into the wall instead of the door way, and feel onto the concrete tile floor. (This was in San Jose, Costa Rica). Ouch! That brought me back. So I think that one D episode can make the brain seek more of them to escape during stress of all kinds, including simple physical pain, especially if that pain runs on nerve pathways that were fired up during the trauma.

Muse

 

[Powder]

Do you find that you want to instantly forget the flashback, and only retain the "facts" of it and that it happened? I can't think about what it was actually like having it, b/c I get upset.

Muse