senses

Do ya'll get flashbacks bad?

I been for a long time getting flashbacks where i get the taste, smell and feel of something. Like the 2 pieces of bacon i ate that made my stomach feel even sicker. Or the smell of the house we all stayed in. I feel the worry and dire need to know what happened to my brother. I feel that pain when i flashback to when i was sitting outside the hotel door 4 in the morning. So upset, yelling to call us, let us know you survived. I feel what i felt then, when i bawled and yelled into the voice mail of my brothers phone.

I didnt cry for the longest time. But now when i have the flashbacks if i cried then i cry again. Im actually going through what i did then again and again. I'm losing moments in time because of these flashbacks. They are coming more frequent. Am i just losing it? How can i have those senses of smell, touch, taste, etc? Does it always stay this way when this happens? Does it ever slow up or just stop?

A year and a half of being numb and in shock. then i turn to this torture for the past 2 almost 3 years.

I dont want to ask my T about this. She'll go into it further and i dont want to go there right now. I'm trying to forget about it. And just go minute by minute like its over and i just have to live the way i chose to.

I just had to get this out. I feel alone, the way this stuff is happening to me.

((((chalmette))))

I had exactly the same thing happen to me with flashbacks. I was scared to tell my doc coz I was so sure I was going crazy. When I did tell her, coz I'd struggled with this for months and barely slept, she said we'd not do any work on it just now, not until she'd had me on antidepressants and sleepers for a few weeks.

I don't know your T so don't know how she'll react but...could you perhaps explain that you're not ready to dig deeper yet but can't carry on like this and ask for alternatives?

I'm sorry if this is no help, I just want you to know you're not alone and someone else does know and understand what you're going through and how it feels.

Love,
Julia
xox

I've had flashbacks for about 1 1/2 years now. Mine come and go. It depends on what I talk about in with T or what is going on in my life at that time. I dissociate with them also. I think this is very common.

I would certainly say something to your T. Be honest though and say I want to take one thing at a time. She should not push you until you are ready.

Take care.

I have bad flashbacks sometimes, too. Mine are particularly bad with smells and sounds. Yuck, that's all I can ever say about them. I'm sorry you're struggling with such vivid ones.

I do encourage you to tell your T what's going on, so she has an accurate picture of how you are doing. Remember that you get to choose how much to discuss. You can simply tell her you're having bad flashbacks. You are in control, you can decide whether or not to give details.

Lost71, tryingtobeme and skeski thank you for responding and letting me know i'm not losing it and alone. I'm sorry ya'll go through the same thing and i hope it stops.

I guess i probably should say something to my t. She's very nice and understanding. But she does push often. I could just tell her i am having them but say im not ready to get into it. She's told me a few times its going to get worse before it gets better. Its been worse for awhile now. I would like to be able to talk about it. I just don't know if i can.

((((((((((((((Chalmette)))))))))))))))))

sitting with you sweetie,

I am starting to get flashbacks like you have described, the smells and tastes. Your not alone hun, we are all here for you, and care very much about you.

I think discussing this with your T and telling her you need help but aren't ready to tackle these memories just yet is a good idea. I think she can help.

Sending lots of hugs and feathers to you hun
Sparrow

Hugs Silver. I mentioned it to her and she wanted to talk some about it. I think alot of her patients are coming at her with the flashbacks right now with the anniversary just days away. It's weird i have no problem talking abot it at times, then there are those times i get triggered so easily. right now im in that numb, blank feel. Tommorow starts the worst of the anniversary for me. The day i evacuated and all that happened with it.

I guess its a good thing i see her again tomorrow, even though she wants to do the CBT thing.

chal