[meadowsweet]

a while ago I was attacked (strangled)...and for a time during the attack, I lost touch with what was going on around me and felt very very peaceful...and Id assumed that I just wasnt there in my mind because of the shock or something. But I mentioned it at a pysch-assessment and the counsellor asked if Id lost conciousness during the attack, and it dawned on me that I dont know...and that feeling of not knowing is something that panics me. I have problems trusting the witnesses to the attack, so I dont feel I could get back in touch with them and ask at the moment. So I wondered if anybody here would have some advice about this??

[Open Eyes]

Perhaps that moment of peaceful feeling was how your brain offset the sudden trama.

Please try to focus on the fact that you did survive it and your alive and have your life back. I don't think you have to know every nook and cranny of it. As far as witnesses go, they might not truely remember the details either and talking to them may not really help because you may just be suggesting a memory for them. When things happen that fast not everyone is going to remember every detail, because after all, it was a sudden surprise to everyone including you.

I am very sorry that you had to experience that. Please continue to focus on ways to recover verses lamenting on the fact that it did happen. It is very important that you look for ways to find some kind of closure to that experience and consciously decide that you are going to proceed with your life and truely put it behind you. It will take time for the shock of that experience to just move into a memory where you acknowledge that it was something bad but you have dealt with it and you have consciously made peace with it and will not continue to relive it with constant fear. Try to make your mind up that you were meant to survive it because you have a life path that needs to be lived and you have much to learn and experience yet. Dont allow this to continue playing on your mind, you are not going to remember all the details, it was just too sudden. Often we allow our brains to do playbacks because every human being is programed to learn from bad experiences and replay for survival purposes. We learn from both good and bad, it is just human nature.

I hope that you have had therapy for this to help you make sure you have made peace with it and can get back to living your life.

Open Eyes

[meadowsweet]

Thankyou for your reply open-eyes. Immediately after that event and previous experiences, my personal reaction is to not say anything, pretend to myself it didnt happen...or wasnt anything significant, and get on with life. But it hasnt worked and I find the ptsd symptoms have got steadily worse. It happened a few years ago now, but Ive only sought help this year, and am awaiting therapy.

[Open Eyes]

Ok, make sure you follow through with therapy, because your symptoms are getting worse so you definitely need help, don't blame yourself for the symptoms, just make sure you really follow through with therapy, that is the smart way to go. Keep us informed, don't think your all alone in this, I totally understand what your saying, I have bad PTSD issues too and I am so glad for the support here where others understand the struggle because it is very hard to explain to others that don't have it.

Open Eyes

[meadowsweet]

Thankyou for your kind words open eyes. Im from the UK, so although therapy is thankfully free, there can be a long wait until an appointment becomes available. Ive been referred for emdr therapy and hopefully wont have to wait too long.