[FacingMyPast]

How do you deal with your triggers...??
How do you deal when you know that you are about to have an episode??

I just need to hear from other people I guess.

[JaneC]

Sorry to hear that you are struggling FMP.

I never used to know what my triggers were, or what was even happening when I was.

Now, I just try to take myself away form the situation, and if that is not possible I have to sit through it. It can be excrutiating! Afterwards I try to take cae of myself and find a way to relax, sometimes I just need to sleep it off.

Sorry I don't have much to offer you, but I do hope you are trying to be kind to yourself. Do you have a T? Have you worked through and coping skills with them? There are many, like the usual ones such as breathing. I hope you do have someone to talk to.

Take good care, kind to you.

[FacingMyPast]

Leaving the situation and breathing exercises along with a few others are things I have been taught by my T.

I find sometimes they don't always work though and sometimes an episode creeps up on me and I get blind sided by it.

My flash backs have become increasing worse this last year and I can't seem to shake that feeling after I have had them for days and then my family suffers for it.

[Open Eyes]

((FacingMyPast)),

I am sorry you have been dealing with so many triggers and flashbacks. I know how challenging it is. You need to realize that triggers and flashbacks mean something, tell a story that you need to talk out and sort through.

I always thought that we experience things and find our way through them and they are over. That is what most people believe and insist on. However, that isn't true, our brain stores/remembers everything, everything that is hard or emotionally challenging too. If a person has a lot of challenges in their past, they are more vulnerable to developing PTSD.

When PTSD takes place we slowly start re-experiencing things we didn't realize we stored the way we did. It is important to remember these thing were in the past and not now, even if they feel like they are "now". These events were never processed correctly, and the brain stores them in different areas, not always areas that have language to them either. Every trigger means something that you need to take time and figure out and talk out with someone who listens and can help you work through them and validate you as much as you need it.

I know it can be exhausting, me too, but you need to have patience with it just as you would any serious injury that needs to be addressed and time to heal from. It is not your fault you struggle, so never self blame, as you keep patient and work through it you will slowly gain and the flashbacks will get weaker and weaker to just a processed memory that doesn't bring on the emotional and physical challenges.

I deal with it one day at a time, that is really all you can do, and make sure you have a place you can go to rest where no one bothers you. Yes, it is hard on families, but your family should talk to your T so they can slowly learn how to support you when you struggle. It is harder when the family is not supportive or makes comments that are not helpful while you are working on your healing. Yes, living with someone struggling with PTSD can be like walking on eggshells, even for the one suffering. But with the right support for the whole family, it can go better.

One day at a time....self soothing and self care while you take time to sort it out.

((Hugs)))
OE

[JadeAmethyst]

I'm sorry that you are having a rough time right now. It will be ok. It is great that you are aware and that's the first step, you KNOW. I don't know how long you have been in therapy. It is frustrating to be triggered and not understand how and what started it. I have felt the same way too. Please be kind to yourself,,,really kind like you would be kind to any friend who is hurting.

take good care
Jade

[Teacake]

Heres what worls.

GABA. BillieJ Sahleys protocol. Read her small books.
David Bercelis TRE. Its a safe, simple, stand alone self help modality. You can learn from his book. Or you can find a teacher.
Kundalini yoga. Neurogenic yoga. Any hatha yoga.
Meditation. 9
Stable blood sugar.
Avoidance of stimulants. Especially you want to avoid raising norepinephrine and epinephrine. Allergies and skipping meals, and coffee and cigarettes all do this.
Cardiovascular conditioning will make you resistant to episodes and freakouts and triggers.
Ive had good results from a vata balancing diet and martial.arts training.

As a pharmacist, you have some backgound in human physiology. Read StevenPorges Polyvagal Theory. Learn the physiology of trauma. Learn how to bring your body back to peacetime physiology.

[thickntired]

Hi,

My pdoc gave me Prazosin/minipress. I was amazed how well it worked. I no longer have nightmares, flash backs, and for the first time I can talk about it in therapy without losing my crap.

[FacingMyPast]

Originally Posted by Teacake

Heres what worls.

GABA. BillieJ Sahleys protocol. Read her small books.
David Bercelis TRE. Its a safe, simple, stand alone self help modality. You can learn from his book. Or you can find a teacher.
Kundalini yoga. Neurogenic yoga. Any hatha yoga.
Meditation. 9
Stable blood sugar.
Avoidance of stimulants. Especially you want to avoid raising norepinephrine and epinephrine. Allergies and skipping meals, and coffee and cigarettes all do this.
Cardiovascular conditioning will make you resistant to episodes and freakouts and triggers.
Ive had good results from a vata balancing diet and martial.arts training.

As a pharmacist, you have some backgound in human physiology. Read StevenPorges Polyvagal Theory. Learn the physiology of trauma. Learn how to bring your body back to peacetime physiology.

A lot of that I do apart from the coffee I need my coffee with the stupids hours I must work.
Some of that I will look into

[FacingMyPast]

Originally Posted by thickntired

Hi,

My pdoc gave me Prazosin/minipress. I was amazed how well it worked. I no longer have nightmares, flash backs, and for the first time I can talk about it in therapy without losing my crap.

I can't take Prazosin unfortunately it's primarily used as a beta blocker and I have a Congenital heart condition so it would interact with my current medications I am already taking.
I have heard it works well for some with anything from Psychological issues I'm very happy it's working for you.

[JaneC]

I was thinking about this, and things that I have done that help somewhat in the moment when I just can't get away from a sudden situation. I do a lot of I suppose you could call it reality checking.

One technique my T taught me was to come up with a mantra I can use to remind myself that I am here now, in the present, and not back actually experiencing whatever it is I am remembering. I say my name, my age(yikes), where I live and I also say one thing that is significant to me, I tell myself that I am my sons Mum and how old he is sometimes. I also touch something that is near me....like a wall or the chair I am sitting on, just to further ground me.

Another one is to look around me and name 5 things. 5 green things, 5 sounds I can hear etc. I also find that now I am able to sit with things a bit more, as I realise now that the horrid stuff comes in waves, and like waves I know they will eventually recede and fade.

They do actually help somewhat, but I remember when my T first told me about them......I thought they were ridiculous! Give yourself some time, and kindness to find the tools that work for you. I can relate with how overwhelming this can feel, so kind to you.

[thickntired]

Originally Posted by FacingMyPast

I can't take Prazosin unfortunately it's primarily used as a beta blocker and I have a Congenital heart condition so it would interact with my current medications I am already taking.
I have heard it works well for some with anything from Psychological issues I'm very happy it's working for you.

Thank you and I'm so sorry you're dealing with a heart condition on top of ptsd!

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