[LiteraryLark]

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?

[Yaowen]

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

[MtnTime2896]

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.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

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?

yes having "flashbacks" is normal with PTSD. after huricane sandy I had many flashbacks where for a moment I felt it was hurricane sandy coming with every storm or light rain. anything that reminded me of that time in my life I felt for a moment that it was happening all over again. one day my wife found me staring out the window on a sunny day, she asked me whats wrong and I said just trying to blink away the huricane. she went outside and waved at me from the window. I realized seeing a neighbor spraying his sprinklers that morning was causing me to "flash back" in the form of visual hallucinations.

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.

[16216398]

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

[dwilliams10]

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

[Open Eyes]

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.