[chaotic13]

Do you have adverse reactions to certain sound and smells? I'm struggling a lot with this at the moment. It is very personal so I don't foresee ever being able to discuss it in therapy. I'm getting ill just writing this. I know what memories they are associated with, I just can't seem to dis-associate or re-associate them to new memories.

Anyone experience this and have some ideas for successfully moving beyond it?

You asked for ideas on how to move beyond it....

I have found only one way.. to get a handle.. on this.. to talk about it... but that is me.. I am sure... there are other ways...

There is a certain smell.. that my abuser had - his breath.. like no other smell... and when a man started working at my place of employment.. that had "that" smell... it threw me for a loop..

so.. knowing I was going to run into it... I used peppermints... for me to smell while I was working with him...

but.. the smells that come around you from the past.. that are unexpected... well... they still throw me...

you have made me think... I will ask my T...and see what he says....maybe we can figure something out...

[RozG]

i'm sorry you find sounds and smells bother you. i find the same. so far i have two ways of reacting to it. i can actively avoid that sound and smell or work with my T on CBT to re-direct my brain when i encounter those sounds and smells.

sorry if this is no help to you, i hope you find a solution that works for you soon.

[chaotic13]

I have developed a good rapport with my T but I really don't think I can talk about this issue. I've always felt initially repulsed but in the past was able to deal with it by distracting myself. For some reason it just seems so much more intense now that I've gone back and opened Pandora's box. I hope I will be able to get it under control again. Is distraction the main technique taught in therapy when this happens?

Yes, I think distraction is one of the main techniques used. How about keeping a little bottle of peppermint oil with you, so you can smell it when need be. I find this to be a great help.

[Troy]

Sounds and smells are vivid triggers for me both in the csa and combat. When I first notice these sounds and smells now, I realize the effect it will have on me and change my thinking to something current, something in focus right at that minute and this helps me avoid the memory trip that comes with the sounds and smells. I also use a lot of self talk, just saying something like, "I'm in the here and now. What happened was a long time ago. I'm safe now." This combination works well for me, but it was not recommended by professionals, so I don't know if it works for others.

I don't try to think of the sounds and smells as something else. I just try to focus on something else until that event passes. The first time these triggers occurred was a big surprise, but things have improved.

Sorry you're having to deal with this
Troy

[chaotic13]

Thanks everyone. Maybe my perceived increased sensitivity is part of the rewarming process after being numb and not allowing myself to feeling anything. I think just writing about it has helped somewhat. When I wrote the first posted I kind of triggered myself a little bit. Now I am writing this response without the knot in my stomach. I think I will be able to raise my tolerance these feelings again. Hopefully this time without shutting out everything else in the process.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. Now I also know that distraction is one of the techniques used to address these issues.