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Crowned "The Good Witch"
Member Since Jun 2009
Location: Wonderland
Posts: 11,535
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#1
I am a victim of a wildfire that claimed my home. I live in an area where there are fireplaces/controlled burns going and it is often foggy, so I've been able to come over the sight and smell of smoke, but when I have anxiety I see smoke that isn't there. It's like a hallucination...it takes a few seconds for my eyes to figure out it's not really there and it's gone...is this normal for PTSD?
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MtnTime2896, Open Eyes, RoxanneToto, seeker33, unaluna, Yaowen
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Jan 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 3,619
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#2
Dear LiteraryLark,
How awful that you were the victim of a wildfire that claimed your home. That is just heartbreaking! I suffer from some PTSD but don't know that much about it. I have had some experiences a bit similar to what you describe, but they are mostly dissimilar. Hopefully others here with more experience and insight will see your post and respond to it with something that is really helpful. I think your thoughts and feelings about what you describe are completely understandable and I hope you find out what is going on. Sincerely yours, Yao Wen |
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LiteraryLark
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LiteraryLark, RoxanneToto
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Chat Moderator
Member Since Feb 2016
Location: Doing donuts in the parking lot
Posts: 4,271
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#3
I read somewhere that hallucinations are more common in PTSD than people once thought. I found the artical when I was searching to figure out my own. Whether or not it's a hallucination or some form of a flashback is something I can't answer. I can say, however, that this makes sense and seems normal in my eyes.
__________________ "Give him his freedom and he'll remember his humanity." |
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Open Eyes, RoxanneToto
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Wise Elder
Member Since Mar 2009
Location: 8CS / NYS / USA
Posts: 9,153
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#4
Quote:
my suggestion is if you have a treatment provider contact them. they may have some ideas for combatting your flashbacks or maknig changes medically like some great anxiety meds can slow anxiety responses like anxiety induced flashbacks. works for me anyway. |
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RoxanneToto
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RoxanneToto
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Member
Member Since Mar 2014
Location: America
Posts: 43
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#5
I'm pretty sure that is normal, as awful as they may be. I witnessed my boyfriend get shot in the head in October 2020. When I hear loud, abrupt noises, sometimes I see bodies laying on the ground that aren't there. I'm sorry you had to go through that
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AliceKate, RoxanneToto
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Junior Member
Member Since Nov 2019
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 12
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#6
Have you taken any psychedelics? Although these drugs are effective in treating PSD according to the articles I've read, they can have side effects and one of it can cause hallucinations.
Here's an example: Ayahuasca Effects: Dangers, Safety, & Side Effects |
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Mar 2011
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 23,174
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#7
What you are describing is a flashback. Flashbacks can be very scary and you have to learn that when you experience them that they pass and you can't stop them from happening. Once they finish talk to yourself and say "yes that happened but it's not now, I am safe now". That helps to reduce the strength of the flashback.
When we experience a trauma all we focus on is surviving so the trauma doesn't get processed. It's more a question our brain is asking and it will take time for the brain to finally accept that we are ok. It's a delayed reaction due to our just trying to survive something. |
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