[Numbers]

Fell asleep in the middle of the day, after not having been able to sleep for very long, and had a horrible nightmare. It was so real.
I can't seem to wake up... images keep reappearing, the taste, the pain, the sounds, the smell.. I'm so scared... please can anyone help?

Can't seem to shake it huh? I know the feeling. When I have a nightmare like that it stays with me all day. I try to get myself involved in other activities to almost overcome the brains wanting to think about the nightmare. If nothing else, remember you have made it before and will again.

[Rio_]

((((Is_this_the_right_place))))) Sorry, that does sound scary. Nothing like that has happened to me, but there have been times when I've had thoughts about my event in my head that have got stuck, and sometimes finding an activity that I could give my full concentration to helps. Also, my therapist told me to think of a "safe place" to go to (either physically, or just to imagine myself there) if the thoughts got too much - can you think of somewhere like that for yourself?

[Numbers]

can't think of safe a safe place.. usually I do that too, but I can't concentrate on anything. I'm so scared, the dream is so real in my head and I'm having trouble staying in reality. it keeps coming back. I tell my self it's not real but it dosn't work

[Rio_]

Is there someone you can talk to? It might help to distract you from the dream, to keep you in reality. There are some grounding techniques here, too: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...survival/81170

[Numbers]

thanks.. I'll try that

[Numbers]

I guess it isn't going to let me go.. too tired to keep concentrating.

Having flashbacks is hard. - I - have an emergency list that - I - use when this is happening to - ME -. Maybe making an emergency list for these times will help you. Some of those things on - MY - list are:

Take a bath
take a walk
ride - MY - bike
Journaling
drawing
listen to music
watch a comedic movie
eat something that - I - enjoy
Call - MY - therapist
call a friend
call the local hotline
go to - MY - therapist office
email a friend
make a scale model or diarama of the flashback
make a containment box for the flashback
make a collage of the flashbacks

The list goes on.

Hang in there.

[Numbers]

I have a box of things to do.. kind of like your list.. when they come I draw a random one and hope it helps... I guess it's just one of the bad ones

[pyeah]

can I ask what you mean by make a scale model or diarama of the flashback? what exeactly do you do?
*hugs* carolyn

[(JD)]

I'm sorry for your situation... I've been there too, unfortunately. One has to make contact with the real world in all ways possible, I think, to help work through this. The "essence" of the flashback lingers longer than anyone wants them to, imo.

I think with such a strong sense of a trigger, that the best thing is just let it be...not try to delve into it anymore, or figure it out etc... seems to me you have experienced it enough for now. Don't push the envelope by digging more, it could cause more flashbacks (being too much ==overload)

I have a T to call when I get these, do you?

[JustAPixie]

((((((( Is this the right place ))))))

[Numbers]

Yes I'll go see my T tomorrow. Hope it helps.

[Numbers]

Went to see the T. He told me it sounds like I'm having trouble seeing the difference between dream and reality. That kids also have trouble doing this and that probably my mind has been disturbed at the age where I was supposed to learn to distinguish and so maybe I haven't learned properply.
Do any of you have trouble knowing the difference too?

I have nightmares like that - where it is so real that during the day I'm unsure of my reality. Not very often but once and again. It sure shakes you up doesn't it? My T had me write down every little detail of the dream - then when I looked at paper - it helped me thru the day to keep it in perspective that what was on the paper was the dream not my reality.
Then she had me look at the nightmare to see what in my present world would be triggering the flashback - what was the over all trend of the dream - insecurity, fear and such. If I was able to do that, it helped to resolve the trigger and really put the nightmare away,

She had a masters in dream analysis - didn't know they had that until I met her but evidently they do.

Another therapist taught me to draw out the dream on a piece of paper and then draw the solution of how you would like the dream to have turned out.

For instance if in the dream my ex-husband was hitting me - I would draw the police there to save me or draw a
giant hammer to pound on his foot so he wouldn't hurt me.

I've also taken like scrapbooking supplies and used them to project the feelings in my dreams - like one I did had halloween masks on it. Because I had a recurring nightmare of extremely scary things in the dark staring at me.

I know some of what I suggested may see to be "over the top" but it truely works for me. As I am spending the time on the drawings writings, scrapbooking I am actually processing the feelings and the nightmar loses it's grip on my life.


I also make myself as comfy as possible, hot choclate, a good book, a comforter and a heating pad. It makes me feel warm and safe, where nothing but nothing can hurt me.
And eventually the nightmare fades.

((((hugs)))) Lu

[Numbers]

Thank you freewill
those seem like realy good things to do, I think I'll try that so maybe I can figure out what triggers it.
and thanks for the support, sorry you have the same problems.