[Xtree]

I have moments that can be very debilitating. At night before I go to sleep, when I close my eyes I see violent images that can be very scary. When I can fall asleep sometimes I wake up with nightmares. I have trouble going back to sleep because I cannot get the dream out of my head and the images are awful.

I was wondering what is the difference between intrusive thought and flashbacks? How can you control it?

Xtree

[phoenix7]

flashbacks are re-living the moment - intrusive thoughts ..... may not be about re-living the event but can be thoughts that confliuct with what we are doing at the time - ?????

For flashbacks grounding techniques sometimes work - touching a rough surface - holding ice in your hand - reminding yourself that that was then this is now and you are safe now - that it is not happening again - it is just a memory - turn the lights on if its dark - the nI distract myself with something else - I make a hot drink or watch tv for a while - even if its the middle of the night or early hours of the morning -

Intrusive thoughts - I write them down to try to get them out of my head - and then try to dispute them - sorry i this is a bit confusing - im a bit confused today ! there's a change !

take care and discuss it with your T if you have one

[Xtree]

Thanks for the response! Then what is re-experiencing? It sounds like flashbacks? I find the re-experiencing part is much more difficult. I was diagnosed with PTSD with in this past year and I am trying to get a better handle on it and identify what is going on. Thanks again!

Xtree

A flashback (for me) means being lifted off my feet and "slammed" back into the past. I have no idea "I've left" and I see, hear, and smell things just as they were when the original event/s were happening. It is only when I am "slammed" back into the here and now, do I realize what just happened. Sometimes it's stuff I remember and sometimes it's new info. It's done and over with in seconds.

I never reexperience the entire event. I get snapshots of it. If I could string them all together I'd have a complete picture.

An intrusive thought (for me) is when I can't get a traumatic memory/s out of my head and I replay it like it's a movie.

Kinda like when you hear a song and it gets stuck there all day and you find yourself "singing" it over and over.