Left work early PTSD episode

DX'd - Other
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I started work 3 hours late then I only worked for an hour before leaving for the day. My day started out super rough. At my apartment complex it has an old heating/AC system which means it can only be AC or Heat not both at the same time. Which means they shut off our AC for the winter and are switching the system to heat this week.

Anywho the reason that’s important is when the AC gets shut off my bathroom remains super cool but without the forced air I can smell my neighbor smoking weed in the apartment next to mine. The smell of weed is super triggering for my PTSD, that mixed with the coolness in the bathroom sent me into a complete PTSD panic/flashback episode. That happened this morning before work, but now I can’t go in my bathroom without starting a flashback. I don’t know what to do. It got so bad that I had to end work early.

This happens every year in my apartment, the neighbor smokes weed and it comes in through the vent in my bathroom when the AC and heat is turned off. I need ideas for how to get over this, I’m scared to go into my bathroom in fear it’s gonna trigger a panic attack.

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I am not sure what to suggest except to discuss this with your therapist. She might be able to give you ways to cope with these flashbacks. That sounds horrible to have to repeat that each year. So sorry :disappointed:

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The smell wont get you high so if you can remember that, you can still use the washroom. Hope ya feel better

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Oh I know it won’t make me high, I’ve actually never smoked weed but one of my abusers when I was young smoked weed around me and that’s what I associate that smell with

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