What do I do when the flashbacks come up?

Hi,

As of lately I have had a couple of triggers relating to an experience that really did me no good. I was raped 3 years ago. Coming up to summer and other anxiety issues, the flashbacks from the rape comes up too. As if when my defense and coping is weaker, it weakens the ability to deal with the flashbacks too...

The "ten tips for panic" have helped me a great deal, but does anyone have any idea how to deal with flashbacks in a good way? I know it isn't a present event, just a way of my memory to connect and assosciate, but how do I get rid of the nausea and the physical sensations (of being strangled, held down etc).

I'd be happy for any kind of help! It's a tough time!

Florena

[shelzmike]

Well, for each person it is different, and I am willing to bet that you get a different response at each iteration of this thread. However, one thing that has helped me is to not fear or let the symptoms scare me. One day after completing a chapter in a great book (Hope and Help for your Nerves - by Claire Weekes - check it out if you haven't yet), I took her advice and when I started having symptoms, I would close my eyes - and no I did not try to RELAX as everyone always says is the answer, because, let's face it, sometimes that is impossible, or at least seemingly so). What I did instead was to actually FOCUS on each of my symptoms, try to embrace it, figure it out. What was it exactly? Is it something that I have felt before? Can I make it better by concentrating on it? Can I make it worse by concentrating on it, if I tried? The latter is what helped me, I realized that it was JUST A SYMPTOM and nothing else and I had no control over making it worse or better. So the solution then? Do NOT focus on it and just let it pass - since if I focus on it, nothing changes, why waste my time? After several times, my symptoms gradually stayed less and less time and eventually have gone away completely.

Now, in your situation, this may be a bit different as your anxiety and panic are induced by a traumatic event. Mine was simple generalized anxiety disorder. I believe that, unfortunately, in your case the anxiety will continue to come as a by-product of the PTSD symptoms; therefore, treating the anxiety alone will not get to the root cause, and the root cause (when it comes to anxiety) is the only thing that can be effectively cured.

Are you seeking help/support for the rape that occured? In my opinion, I think focusing on dealing with that specifically will help alleviate the after-effect of stress. Think about it this way - if you break your leg, it hurts - you can do nothing about it but take pain pills, and you may soon forget you have a broken leg. However, without getting help for the actual break, the root cause, it will never actually heal. This is treating only a secondary-effect.

I could not imagine such a thing happening, but feel that there are plenty of resources and support that can help you through it. Good Luck!

Mike

[ParamedFlorena]

Thank you for a different way of approach! I am going to try remember it when I need it!

... And well... I pass by the area several times a day and having done that 10-15 times a day, every day one week, it's not as much a reminder about it. Mentally better prepared when I know. I can't avoid passing the place either so I've come over the worst trigger there.

I refuse to see myself as a victim! I won't let him win. Never! No matter what, I'm determined to not let it break me but my coping has gotten some dents lately.

Your technique there sounds interesting. Reminders means our memory pics up pictures and make assosciations, so I'm pretty sure that by taking the terror out of them that way, it'll work much better than relaxing... Relaxing comes on its own!

Thank you
Florena

[greenlydia]

I am so sorry to hear of your experience. It is a life altering and mind shattering experience. I have some knowledge of it.
While it sounds like you have made tremendous strides in dealing with this horrific event, there are still some issues you have with it. This is NOT a judgement on all the difficult work you have already done to reach the point you are now at. But PTSD can be sneaky..........when we think we have finally "conquered" it, we discover that there are remnants that remain and haunt us.
I urge you to get back into therapy and keep delving into that "bad place" until there is absolutely nothing left...........otherwise you will be blindsided by this for the rest of your life. If you refuse to see yourself as a victim and refuse to let him "win," then you need to rid your mind and your soul of everything he stole from you. But the truth is, he stole NOTHING! Everything you feel you lost is STILL within you! EVERYTHING! Therapy will just help you bring it back into the light.
Seek the help.
Peace
Greenlydia