hang in there Lilith. I too am in what I call a memory recall cycle - flashbacks and nightmares. Even though I know that dreaming/nightmaree and flashbacks is the brains normal memory and storage process for tramatic memories it is a major pain physically and mentally. The one thing that keeps me going is that once I remember the complete memory the flashbacks fade and I no longer act out that piece of memory when triggered into dissociating.
I can't remember if you are DID or not but if so - think of it this way
you now know the content of a memory. horrible as knowing what the memory content is there is a positive side to it -
you will no longer be acting that piece of memory out unconsciously. And You can now use grounding and relaxation techniques to control your behavior and PTSD symptoms when you get upset by anything in the present that reminds you of this past memory.
The things I do when experiencing a flashback are many -
take a bath
take a walk
go for a bike ride
write
draw
squish and mold play dough and other types of modeling clay
paint
make a collage
Diarama's
play on line games
play my game boy advance games
clean the house
call my therapist if things get more than I can handle
Email and or pm friends
the list goes on.
hang in there
Ive gone through many flashback cycles and can tell you it does get better.
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