[Autumndancer]

I am a survivor of childhood incest. All my life I have dealt with the random flashbacks but somehow was able to cope through them. Lately, the flashbacks have become almost constantly triggered and I don't know what to do with them. Do I ride them out? Do I give in to the dissociation? Do I try to work through them?

I try journal them out, I try to distract myself...it doesn't seem to be working, the flashbacks keep intruding and I am getting overwhelmed and hopeless. I am scheduled to see my therapist a month from now and trying to find coping skills to get me through until then.

[Open Eyes]

I am sorry you are having these flashbacks, yes, they are intrusive and inconvenient.
However, while you can't stop them from happening, you can wait them out, acknowledge them and remind yourself that yes that happened but is not happening now. The more you do this the weaker they will get until eventually all they really become is a memory that instead of creating an emotional challenge will instead have very little impact on
you.

[Teacake]

Originally Posted by Autumndancer

I am a survivor of childhood incest. All my life I have dealt with the random flashbacks but somehow was able to cope through them. Lately, the flashbacks have become almost constantly triggered and I don't know what to do with them. Do I ride them out? Do I give in to the dissociation? Do I try to work through them?

I try journal them out, I try to distract myself...it doesn't seem to be working, the flashbacks keep intruding and I am getting overwhelmed and hopeless. I am scheduled to see my therapist a month from now and trying to find coping skills to get me through until then.

Keep your adrenaline down.

Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Keep your blood sugar steady. Treat allergies. Walk. Do an hour of yoga in the evening to increase GABA which cools the brain and quiets the mind.

Anything that causes adrenaline to spike can set you off. This includes trifling people as well as bad habits like losing your keys and running late.