Flashbacks

[Soulless_Angel]

Over the last few months flash backs have been paying me visits with no warning, the other night a emotional non visual flash back hit me hard, that was horrific.

What I want to know is how to you deal with them? How do you cope, I know they can't be stopped, they are something out of our control. I am wanting to know do you suffer with them, what do you do to deal with them?

 

[lightsoutnow]

I empathize with you greatly.

1 tool I know is grounding. Focus on your senses and identify each verbally;

what do you smell? i.e. "i smell barbecue food."

what do you see? "i see a carpet. it has green and blue lines."

what do you feel against your skin? "the green and blue striped carpet feels soft."

what do you hear? "i hear the traffic outside my window."

the mind will try to bring your attention back to the flashback (and if it has great emotional impact, your body may react accordingly such as going into a panic or hyperventilation) but continue to do these and focus on them to bring your mind back to the present.

because at present, you are safe and nothing bad is happening to you.

if thats too hard, try to focus on breathing in and then breathing out really slowly.

i hope these info can help you a little. i know how hard it can be.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

I get lots of flashbacks too. Memories of the life I should still have and everyone else thinks I can still have.

I don't deal with it. It feels so unreal not to have the life I've now lost.