Coping with Flashbacks--Any Suggestions?

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Coping with Flashbacks--Any Suggestions?

This is a question for all those guys here with PTSD.

Just a few minutes ago, I came out of the shower. It was very unnerving in the bathroom because of the flashbacks. I mean, on one level I know I'm in the present. But I can also see my brother standing just on the other side of the door, ready to burst in on me. In my mind, I am right back there in childhood. Lately it seems I've been having almost daily flashbacks, some so real it's scary.

My T. is away on vacation. The advice I was given before was to say a safety statement which sometimes works. Or I go to a safe place in my house (my favorite rocking chair). But I was wondering what might work for you? Do you have any advice about coping with PTSD? And flashbacks?

Thanks in advance!

Jasper
 
Jasper I have used a strong elastic band to help me with triggers in the past. Whenever I felt that feeling coming on I would snap the damn thing that was around my wrist and it would hurt like hell but boy did it bring me back to the present. Just a thought.
 
Thanks guys!

I knew I could count on you. And you gave me some EXCELLENT suggestions. Most of all, you reminded me that it's up to me to fight back against my PTSD if I want to get better. And to take control of my flashbacks!

But I also realized something in reading your posts: Instead of letting my flashbacks scare me so much and take control of my life, maybe I should see them as a kind of gift. I know that sounds strange. Probably really strange.

Yet I still don't have conscious memory of all the sexual abuse. It's like a movie, where I get to a certain point and then the film goes blank. Does anyone know what I mean?

So what I am trying to say, a lot of these flashbacks are memories which are surfacing. As painful as that can be, I DO WANT TO KNOW ALL THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

In other words: I can either see the flashbacks as a curse or a blessing. But either way, I have some control over them, thanks to the suggestions that you mentioned.

Am I making sense here? :confused: I hope so!

Thanks again,

Jasper
:cool:
 
I got some really good advice from Jake about flashbacks. He said thats me tryin to deal with what happened & it doesnt mean im goin crazy. He said when i feel it starting just concentrate on stuff thats real. He told me put my feet flat on the floor & feel that - its real. & put my hands on something in front of me & feel that - its real. He said its important to breathe slow & deep & dont panic & start gulping air. All that helps u to focus on other stuff thats real.

I also watch out for places & things that can get me into a flashback. Like most of the time I dont come upstairs in the evening cos its dark & quiet & im alone. If other ppl r up here its okay but not if im gonna be alone. & I stay outa my old room & if I need something I get someone to go in with me. Its not paranoid to be like that, Im just doing whats best for me.

Kev
 
Through my experiences with flashbacks I have done many things to cope with them and still practice these things to this day. First of all I want to tell you that flashbacks can be a good thing because it is a way for your mind to deal with things in slow natural ways.

My first advice to you is to not fear them. Let them come and learn what you can from them. I know with my whole being that they can be scary and at times unbearable but do your best to understand them and accept them for what they are, (Ways to deal with and help you through the process of recovery.)

The next step is to really come to an understanding of them. Flashbacks are spiratic memories that are arising because you have failed to deal with something in the past. Learn everything you can about the memory. Write it down, play it out, and don't allow yourself to forget anything. There is a reason you are having the flashbacks and it is important to know and understand why you are. Through out everything you have experienced your mind had to find a way to survive and with most of us that way of survival was shuting down and tunning out the experience. Well by doing this all that happened was your mind took the experience and storred the unbarable memory away into a place that only could be accessed when you could mentally and physically handle the experience. Therefore when we get older and are able to process these things your mind opens up that hidden place and flashbacks are created.

If the flashback happens to be something you feel you have not forgotten and it is a memmory that will not cease to exist even though you have dealt with all of its aspects be open enough to rethink and write the experience again just to make sure you are not forgetting anything. Again I know reliving those experiences and looking into the past is extreamly hard but in order to truly go down the path to recovery you have to work through all of the nightmeres of the past.

I have found for me that writing is the best way to tackle the jouney of recovery. Also having someone you can share those writings with is prudent so you know that someone is not only listening to your story but also there to support and help you through the times you feel unable to continue on.

There will be times that you are so affraid you just want to eliminate all things and cease to exist, You will cry uncontrollibly, you will have yawning spells, you will feel like just disapearing into ablivion but the good news is there will be times when you look back and realize how far you have come. You will begin to notice that the flashbacks are less than they were and feel an incredible joy that lifts you high above all of the clouds that darken your skys. You will find your self in a sail boat with a full crew yelling out, "What orders Captain." when just a little while ago you felt like you were floundering alone. Just continue down your path and continue to be strong and realize that nothing will happen to you that you can not handle.

If you are not writing I would suggest you start because it can be incredably helpful for you. I wish you all the best and hope that some of what I said helps you on your journey. Good luck.

malidin
 
Flashbacks, or overwhelming fears. It is best to try and visualise them as only that, they are not valid and not real, it is just how the mind reacts to certain triggering fears.

Dealing with flashbacks is not easy, and sometimes it is like you feel you are going crazy and losing control. I cope with flashbacks by trying to understand situations that they may occur in.

To me, I had to find a safe quiet place, and just relax every muscle in my body and breath slowly but deeply, I also had to divert my mind away from what caused it.

Read this link,

https://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=154

It DOES get easier,

ste
 
You will begin to notice that the flashbacks are less than they were and feel an incredible joy that lifts you high above all of the clouds that darken your skys. You will find your self in a sail boat with a full crew yelling out, "What orders Captain." when just a little while ago you felt like you were floundering alone.
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Malidin,

That was so beautiful! You took such time with your post and answered so many of my questions that I am very grateful. Most of all, you've given me a whole new perspective on flashbacks. I will especially take to heart your suggestion about writing them down. I'm a writer, after all. That's a natural for me. And I happen to have a fresh blank book to start another journal! Now I feel silly--why didn't I think of that sooner? But maybe I was afraid to write them down before. Somehow that would make them too real. But now? Well, I'm ready to get out my pen and my notebook. Thank you!

Kev,

I really like your suggestion about touching things and reminding myself what is real. Often my flashbacks happen when I am walking my dog in the woods. And with all the wild animals around here, it sometimes doesn't feel safe to have flashbacks when I'm watching out for bears and such! So I'll take your idea and maybe use it to touch a tree or a rock and remind myself what is real. Thanks, that was a really cool idea.

ste,

That article taught me so much about flashbacks! I think I'll make a copy of it and bring it to my next PTSD therapy group. They will LOVE it. Thanks so much!

Take care guys! And if anyone else has a suggestion, please feel free to add your thoughts. They are most welcome, I assure you.

All the best,

Jasper
 
Here are some more links,

https://www.stardrift.net/survivor/flash.html

https://www.survivingtothriving.org/triggers

This one may triggr some,

https://survive.org.uk/PTSD.html
 
Only thing thats ever worked for me is controlling my breathing (keeping it calm), concentrating on setting my heart-rate down, and hang on to every bit of reality and logical thinking i can.

It works both for my flashbacks, and when i start getting psychotic.

Malidin is probably right about observing them and learning from them, but i think you really have to be ready to do that, and i am not currently ready..
 
Thankyou Jasper50 for your kind words that made me feel really good. I also want to thank you to Grobut. I was really happy to see you both making such coments.
 
Hello Grobut:

Thank you for the reminder to control my breathing. I always forget about that one and it is so important.


And Hello Malidin:

I just wanted to let you know that I got out a blank book this morning and was writing things down in the middle of a flashback!!! It's wild to think that I can do that. But it's so positive because I feel like I have some control now. Plus those notes are wonderful gifts from a part of myself (even if the memories are awful).

So thanks all you guys! I have a whole new positive attitude about flashbacks. I am actually starting to think of flashbacks as friends.

Of course, sometimes when they are really bad I wish my "friends" would just go away! :rolleyes:

Take care,

Jasper
 
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