I used to get bad 'episodes' where I would feel like I was back in the first situation that happened. This means I feel like I am 7 or 8 years old even though I'm in a different house, with different people, etc. A friend who I have known all my life would talk me down during these episodes.
When it got bad enough and I felt as though I was 7 or 8 years old again I would forget who people are as I did not know them when I was that age. At this point, telling me I am safe and nothing bad will happen to me, etc (which brings my anxiety down at least 90% of the time) doesn't cut it. It just goes in one ear and out the other. Physical contact, of any kind, at this point is just the most terrifying thing. So instead, my friend would ask me random questions.
"Whats your favorite kind of car?"
"Do you like dogs? If so, whats your favorite kind?"
"Where is your favorite place to go shopping?"
"Do you like video games?"
"Favorite movie? Why? Who's in that movie? Favorite part? Stupidest part?"
A lot of the time it was hard to concentrate on the questions because I was so scared but getting asked these questions would sometimes take my mind off the situation and even if it didn't, we were talking. We weren't directly talking about the situation but I wasn't alone.
He also liked to ask how I was doing and if I was still scared. Well that turned into a big trigger for me so instead he would just ask for a number. A scale between one and ten and move on. That way he could tell if it was helping or not.
Hope this helps!
Manic
When it got bad enough and I felt as though I was 7 or 8 years old again I would forget who people are as I did not know them when I was that age. At this point, telling me I am safe and nothing bad will happen to me, etc (which brings my anxiety down at least 90% of the time) doesn't cut it. It just goes in one ear and out the other. Physical contact, of any kind, at this point is just the most terrifying thing. So instead, my friend would ask me random questions.
"Whats your favorite kind of car?"
"Do you like dogs? If so, whats your favorite kind?"
"Where is your favorite place to go shopping?"
"Do you like video games?"
"Favorite movie? Why? Who's in that movie? Favorite part? Stupidest part?"
A lot of the time it was hard to concentrate on the questions because I was so scared but getting asked these questions would sometimes take my mind off the situation and even if it didn't, we were talking. We weren't directly talking about the situation but I wasn't alone.
He also liked to ask how I was doing and if I was still scared. Well that turned into a big trigger for me so instead he would just ask for a number. A scale between one and ten and move on. That way he could tell if it was helping or not.
Hope this helps!
Manic
