[tracelh754]

For years I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me and I am hoping you all can help me find some clarity. So, whenever I am exposed, be it through TV, movies, news, books, or conversation, to any situation of anyone being sexually assaulted or even just being threatened with sexual assault I have a very severe emotional reaction. My heart speeds up, my brain shuts down, I start shaking, and my mind goes crazy replaying whatever it is I have just seen or heard. I will get images in my head of what happened, feeling what they must have felt, the fear, the pain, and it will replay and replay and replay. I will start crying and feel like I am spiraling into a dark, dark place. I get very, very tired and can feel myself shutting down. It takes hours to come back down from this and then this can go on for days. It has made me afraid to go anywhere, I'm afraid of social settings where someone might mention something they heard on the news that will trigger me. I'm afraid to watch TV, all it takes is one scene and I will spend the next week fighting to keep the images from my head. I feel so fragile. I have no idea why I have this kind of reaction. Is this what going through a PTSD trigger feels like? I need hope that this is not just something I have to learn to live with. Thanks!

[meadowsweet]

For me it sounds very similar to what I experience. I do have some techniques useful to lessen the effects of the initial panic so it doesnt turn into a full on panic attack...but it does take me a long time to get back after a trigger. If you havn't spoken to a doctor about this, I think it would be good to do so, so that it doesnt continue to effect your life so much.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by tracelh754

For years I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me and I am hoping you all can help me find some clarity. So, whenever I am exposed, be it through TV, movies, news, books, or conversation, to any situation of anyone being sexually assaulted or even just being threatened with sexual assault I have a very severe emotional reaction. My heart speeds up, my brain shuts down, I start shaking, and my mind goes crazy replaying whatever it is I have just seen or heard. I will get images in my head of what happened, feeling what they must have felt, the fear, the pain, and it will replay and replay and replay. I will start crying and feel like I am spiraling into a dark, dark place. I get very, very tired and can feel myself shutting down. It takes hours to come back down from this and then this can go on for days. It has made me afraid to go anywhere, I'm afraid of social settings where someone might mention something they heard on the news that will trigger me. I'm afraid to watch TV, all it takes is one scene and I will spend the next week fighting to keep the images from my head. I feel so fragile. I have no idea why I have this kind of reaction. Is this what going through a PTSD trigger feels like? I need hope that this is not just something I have to learn to live with. Thanks!

we cant diagnose your problems only a treatment provider aka physician, psychiatrist, therapist, psychologist can tell you what this is..

what I can tell you is that for some people this kind of reaction is completely normal. tv, movies books are made in such a way that they are meant to illicit some sort of reaction from the viewer, reader, listener.. thats how you know when you are watching a well made movie reading a well written book and watching tv shows and newscasters that are good.. they are supposed to appeal to our emotions, senses so you will continue to read books by that author, continue to watch movies put out by that producer and those that have those actors in them and you will continue to watch that news show over any of the other local news casts. so your reaction can be completely normal for how your brain works with your emotions and what you are exposed to..

that said for people who have undergone situations that are acted out in the movies, books and news casts being re-exposed to these things by reading books with that content, watching tv shows with that content can trigger panic and anxiety attacks like this.

whether these panic and anxiety attacks are PTSD that depends on all kinds of issues, not just the re -exposure.. for example some people who have this kind of reaction its part of their panic or anxiety disorder, part of their schizophrenia disorder, part of their dissociative disorder, part of their having depression.... even physical health problems include panic or anxiety problems..

the only way you will know for sure what this is with you is by contacting a treatment provider where you are. they will be able to tell you what this is for you based on your medical history, medications, mental health history and a whole bunch of other things that go into diagnosing a persons health problems.

[Open Eyes]

(((trace))))
Amandalouise is right, none of us can diagnose you, it is important that you find a therapist or psychiatrist that can properly diagnose you. You may have PTSD as it is an anxiety disorder and can have symptoms as your discribing. However it is important to get the correct diagnosis so you can get the right treatment program to help you find relief.

Open Eyes