creative_writerSenior Contributor
Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
Has anyone found a way to reduce or eliminate flashbacks. I’m open to anything
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Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
90 replies
In response to: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@MissGremlin it’s hard to slow down when my brain is always on the go. I feel like I always need to do something. Maybe it’s the ADHD brain, I’m always wired. When I would have exams, I would panic and feel like I need to complete all the questions at once. I overestimate and underestimate how long it takes to complete tasks.
Being unwell sucks, I was probably just in pre-fever phase, I think it is good I took it easy because doing too much would’ve backfired.
Being unwell sucks, I was probably just in pre-fever phase, I think it is good I took it easy because doing too much would’ve backfired.
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
MissGremlinSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@creative_writer yeah I find it so hard to slow things down myself. I could never do exams, I just froze. The ADHD brain really complicates things at times.
I'm glad you took it easy, gotta take things slow when you aren't well.
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@MissGremlin I didn’t realise how forgetful I was till I became an adult. Then again, adult responsibilities are more demanding than school responsibilities. I’m living with family so maybe I’m fortunate, but I don’t know how I would manage bills. I forget to pay for pdoc appointments. I have also forgotten telephone appointments way too many times. I also need things in sight or I forget. I don’t think I was good with instructions, I’ve had multiple instances where I would forget directions.
Exams were tense, the whole room felt so tense. You would hear people writing and turning papers, and sometimes sniffing. I’m glad those days are gone. I much preferred assignments over exams. It’s easier to get extensions for assignments if you feel off on the due date. I sort of miss uni, job searching days are stressful
Exams were tense, the whole room felt so tense. You would hear people writing and turning papers, and sometimes sniffing. I’m glad those days are gone. I much preferred assignments over exams. It’s easier to get extensions for assignments if you feel off on the due date. I sort of miss uni, job searching days are stressful
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
MissGremlinSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@creative_writer I'm so forgetful myself. Being an adult there's so many things to remember, I do write things down but even then I find it hard to keep up with what's happening. I usually rely on reminder text or emails that I get a day or 2 prior to the appointment, only then do I know what's happening.
I didn't do many exams as I only did half of year 11 before I had to leave school. But the ones I did i just wrote my name on the paper then sat there staring at it, i physically couldn't answer any of the questions, my brain couldn't process it. Job searching is stressful, I'm glad it's not something I have to worry about although at times I do miss being able to work.
Have you got any plans for tomorrow?
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@MissGremlin yesterday I forgot to attend a zoom thing, it totally left my mind. Even though I had reminder emails, but I suppose I didn’t read them when the time came.
School wasn’t easy, I was a dreamy child. I did well enough in high school, but probably could’ve done better if I had known.
I have my psych appointment today and will try to get a shower in. I also have an evening workshop, hoping I remember. It’s been a shit morning so far with urges. I know if I just act on it once, they won’t be many consequences, honestly finding it hard to resist. I don’t know if I’ll let myself slide this time. I’ll be safe though
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
MissGremlinSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@creative_writer that sucks that you missed the zoom meeting but these things happen and it's ok.
School was just traumatic for me in so many ways. You did well enough and that's all that matters.
I hope the psych appointment goes ok. I hear you on it being a sh!t morning with urges, I've been dealing with that from the moment I woke up. Trying hard to resist doing anything myself, i have the phone appointment with the counsellor soon and I'm so anxious about it.
Sending you lots of love and hugs, you've got this ❤️.
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@MissGremlin I think in a way I was lucky and unlucky. I never had major traumatic things happen in the school environment, apart from bullying and emotional invalidation. The traumas that do trigger the body flashbacks happened when I was an adult, but I was still young, I was in that adolescent frame of mind. I think many of us agree 19-20 year olds are far from being fully grown adults. I’ve had other traumas like unintentional emotional neglect, growing up with a parent with mental illness, enmeshment trauma (parents have a tendency of getting too involved). Though my parents have always been loving.
Morning like today, it was too hard to resist, so I ended up caving in. I resisted for few days, so maybe it wasn’t a complete waste. The thing is, once you start, you want to keep doing it. I am safe, the only way to do any significant harm is to repeatedly act on the impulses over a long period of time.
I hope the counsellor phone appointment goes well. Sending you lots of love and hugs 💖
Morning like today, it was too hard to resist, so I ended up caving in. I resisted for few days, so maybe it wasn’t a complete waste. The thing is, once you start, you want to keep doing it. I am safe, the only way to do any significant harm is to repeatedly act on the impulses over a long period of time.
I hope the counsellor phone appointment goes well. Sending you lots of love and hugs 💖
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
MissGremlinSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@creative_writer school for me was horrific,
Content/trigger warning
I was raped repeatedly for 2 years but the teachers ignored it even when it was happening to another student aswell. I was constantly put down and bullied by both teachers and students, i had no friends, I started self harming in primary school and that's just continued throughout my life and its still my coping strategy now even though I know it's unhealthy. 19-20 year olds are still very much learning about life and how to be a functional adult, although I was mature for my age, I had to grow up very quickly.
I'm glad you are safe and it's ok that you gave in to those urges. We are only human and these things happen. It doesn't erase your progress.
Thankyou ❤️
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
@MissGremlin that sounds horrific. SA is hard, it leaves so many scars, no matter what age it happens. I wish I could say it’ll stop hurting, but I haven’t found it to be the case with me. Maybe it gets easier? I know some people say it gets easier. I feel like SH is common among SA survivors. I was definitely immature in some ways at 19-20, and mature in order ways. I think I did a lot of maturing after SA. I do think I’ve become better at holding space for others. I have to when caring for others, I completed a Masters in social work and I’m a volunteer on a helpline. You have to be emotionally mature to help others.
I haven’t gotten married because meeting emotionally mature people is hard to come by. I barely have friends too. I don’t feel everyone has the capacity to be there with me during the good and bad
In response to: Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
creative_writerSenior Contributor
Re: Eliminating or reducing chronic (everyday) flashbacks
I’m sure stress is contributing to urges, but I think i am ultimately chasing dopamine. Hence why I acted on urges (I’m safe and my actions haven’t had any negative consequences). Where else can people find their dopamine?
