[Purple Heart]

Hi

I'm asking people, how do you deal with flashbacks?

My T suggests grounding techniques - being in the here and now, using my five senses in the now, pressing my feet on the ground, telling myself I'm in the present, etc.

What I have been doing is just sitting with the new memories as they come up. Often I find out more truth about what happened and it can be liberating to know the truth. It's like a storm and I just sit with it until it passes. Sometimes its so overwhelming and intense that I can't do anything. What are your thoughts?

PH

[shezbut]

((((Purple Heart))))

Yes, grounding techniques are necessary in those times. I find myself looking away (from the trigger) and looking at wherever I am, trying to tell myself that I'm NOT there. It's over. I am okay. Sometimes, that reassurance only lasts a couple of moments and I "fall back" again. It's weird and very scary!

I do take medications, which do help a lot with preventing flashbacks (somehow). Very gentle hugs to you.

I don't know if I have actual flashbacks...I have moments where I feel I'm in the thick of it but I always know I'm not. Reminding myself I'm here and not there wouldn't be necessary. I replay them and see what I can learn from them if I'm able, or talk out my feelings with someone, or give myself a moment to grieve over it all and remind myself it wasn't my fault and I didn't deserve it can help. Other times I distract with whatever is working at the time. Books, movie, puppy tickles, hot bath with epsoms. I think I kinda hyperventilate sometimes and then I sit with my head kinda between my knees and focus on breathing while hubby rubs my back. Whatever works. I will consider the tips you suggested too. I'm sorry you have these so severely. (((Hugs)))

[Purple Heart]

Thanks for your replies and I hear what you say. Grounding techniques for me have little impact. The flashbacks for me usually reveal truth about what happened. So I see grounding techniques as avoiding the content of the flashback. As said I usually sit with the flashback and let it happened. A T told me if you try to fight it, the flashback gets worse. I have flashbacks all the time since I have complex-PTSD.

I am lucky that I no longer have flashbacks but last year (maybe because of therapy), I went through a lot of them for a while concerning two events. Until it all played out, it sent my blood pressure sky high--only antianxiety meds could control it (and only somewhat). Now that those flashbacks are over for me, I am no longer taking antianxiety medication and my blood pressure is back to being quite good. So I guess I am saying to keep an eye on your blood pressure while you are going through this. Hopefully, your flashbacks will eventually play out for you. I think we have flashbacks because when traumatic events happen, our mind puts our emotions on the backburner because we have to stay calm as in we cannot feel all the fear because it would disable or harm us if we felt it all during the event. I am sorry that you are dealing with so many troubling events. I assume your PTSD is complex because you went through a lot......

[Purple Heart]

Originally Posted by Hopingtrying

I am lucky that I no longer have flashbacks but last year (maybe because of therapy), I went through a lot of them for a while concerning two events. Until it all played out, it sent my blood pressure sky high--only antianxiety meds could control it (and only somewhat). Now that those flashbacks are over for me, I am no longer taking antianxiety medication and my blood pressure is back to being quite good. So I guess I am saying to keep an eye on your blood pressure while you are going through this. Hopefully, your flashbacks will eventually play out for you. I think we have flashbacks because when traumatic events happen, our mind puts our emotions on the backburner because we have to stay calm as in we cannot feel all the fear because it would disable or harm us if we felt it all during the event. I am sorry that you are dealing with so many troubling events. I assume your PTSD is complex because you went through a lot......

Hi, thanks. My blood pressure is always fine. I had it checked last week, all good. I do a lot of exercise for physical and mental health, it helps. I also try to eat healthy. Yes I have complex-PTSD due to as I found out, multiple traumas. So it's taking a long time to recover and get over it. But I'm told flashbacks suggests that your mind is ready to heal and your subconscious believes you're ready and strong enough to confront the evils of the past.

It is rare that my flashbacks are a visual retelling of events. Like my dreams my flashbacks and memories don't play like a movie of which I am an unwilling participant. In stead they are about the flashing memory of emotions at the time and immediately following of the events. Fear of the unknown. Fear of being hurt. Guilt. Shame. Sensation of being filthy both figuratively and literally. Sickening knowledge it must be kept a secret. Nausea and abdominal trouble will immediately ensue. All this happens out of the present. It is as though time stops. My psychiatrist thinks I might be dissociating because I for a few moments seem to lose track of what is happening. When I do become aware, I can taste bile in my mouth I am so disgusted - with myself as much as what had happened.