Has anyone else experienced this?

Potential TW (I don't know how to make spoilers)

Hi everyone! I’ve recently been diagnosed with ptsd and had a question. I’m not an expert in ptsd or flashbacks and was wondering whether if what I’m experiencing is “normal” (for someone diagnosed with ptsd) and if any of you may have experience with this cause I’m feeling pretty alone/weirded out.
A lot of the time when I get very anxious/panicky, it feels like he is standing right next to me and I feel like he is touching me where he did in the past even though there is very clearly nobody there and nobody is touching me. Does anyone else experience this? Is that what a flashback is? I feel kind of crazy If anyone has advice on how to deal with this in the moment that would also be very much appreciated!!!

Hi,
Yes, flashbacks and/or body memories can make you feel that way. Often there is some kind of trigger. If you are not noticing what is causing it you may want to try keeping a journal. It could be anything that your mind connected with the event. Right now feeling hungry is a trigger for me. There is a “sticky” on the top of this forum about grounding techniques that help when this happens.

Yes, that is a kind of flashback. It's important to remind yourself that you are safe now and that presence isn't there. I experience that same kind of feeling so I know what you are describing.

I'm very sorry you're going through this, succulents. You're right, this sounds like a typical example of flashback. I hope your T helps you manage them better. Hugs!

Hey Succulents333, it's awful what you have been going through; lately because of tension and work pressure my flashbacks being similar seem to reappear. What I do find helpful though is putting on calming music and turning off the TV so that we can soak up the soothing music; breathing in each calming note until the flashbacks melt away. Sometimes if the weather is nicer, a slow walk outside is pleasant enough; again, deep breathing is calming and helpful, I've found.

Have you talked to a professional? A licenced reputable counsellor can be wonderful when they strike up a close patient relationship which leads to trust, which in turn helps us greatly. I'm seeing my counsellor more often for my PTSD and at last after many months, have seen progress making us both glad.

Given time, I hope that you will find solace in seeing a professional who can help you through these dark times. Do pm me when feeling able. I am only a whisper away.

Wishing you all the best. Have a peaceful weekend.

Velvet Lounger

Thank you for the advice, I'll give it a try. I'm seeing a psychologist and it's taken a while but I'm starting to feel comfortable around her. However, she's told me that she isn't specialised in trauma and recommended it might be more helpful to see a therapist who is and gave me a few recommendations. I get where she's coming from but I've only just gotten comfortable around her and the idea of seeing a whole new person and having to open up all over again is pretty intimidating.
we agreed I'd think about it for the next session, but having to think about all of this just makes me even more anxious and have worse symptoms. It's very frustrating, I wish I could turn my brain off, or at least turn it down a notch

I am very hesitant of new people especially new people in authority rolls too. The first T I saw by choice was not trained in trauma. She was very kind and supportive but I never really felt comfortable with her and we didn’t get anywhere in 3+ years. The next person I saw was specifically trained in certain types of trauma and she was able to help me feel more at ease in the first session than the previous one ever was. The next several T’s were not trauma trained and we got nowhere and some were quite harmful. I just started with a new T (5sessions in) who doesn’t specialize in trauma but has a lot of training and experience in it. I have always been terrified of men and this is my first male T. He has been amazing at calming me when my coping skills were not enough. He had more trust built after the first session than most did after 3-5 years. He knows the trauma is there but has not asked me about it yet. He wants me stronger first. T doesn’t have to be trained in trauma to help but it really can make a huge difference in your comfort level with the therapy process and how well things go.