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Flashbacks
and survivors
by starman_uk (aest) © aest
Flashbacks are best described as dreams
whilst you are awake. They are can also be one of the
worse things to deal with at times, and in the extreme you relive a traumatic event in full coluor stereo
surround sound with smells thrown in for good measure.
Memories from your past that you see so strong in your
"minds eye" that you loose touch with reality
for a short while. They can be frightening and unnerving
because the here and now is replaced with the there and
then. Not only do you see the there and then, but you
feel the emotions of the there and then. Flashbacks can
be triggered by sounds, smells, fears, words and for all
sorts of reasons.
Like nightmares, the more stress you
are under, and the more self doubt, the more likely you
are to have them. I found that the best thing for me to
do was to hold onto something solid when I had a
flashback, as a sort of link with the present. Another
way is to concentrate on your body, feel the ground under
your feet, or you could try pinching your fingers
together. They are all ways to keep you in the here and
now, or at lest bring you back to it sooner. To let part
of your brain know that what it is seeing is not reality.
As you progress through your recovery you will find that
the flashbacks do not last as long and happen far less
often. They do NOT mean that you are going mad in any
way. It is a normal part of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, and they tend to happen to most survivors when
they start recovery. They are nothing to feel ashamed of
and you can talk openly about them in the recovery
newsgroups, or in the forums. Even if you loose bladder
control under a severe flashback it is STILL NORMAL. Also
do not be surprised if after a flashback you still feel
the emotions of the incident that the flashback was
about, this too is to be expected and will pass.
If flashbacks cause you a lot of
problems, talk them through with your partner, doctor or
therapist. Some medication can make them worse, and lack
of sleep does not help. Try to cut out as much stress as
possible, and be careful driving. Having lost sight of
the outside lane of the motorway once at 75 MPH, I can
assure you that flashbacks and driving do NOT mix. I was
lucky, as I had a friend who offered to drive me for
several months until things improved. [Thanks William for
that.]
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