I had some flashbacks to some sexual assault earlier today and now I’m really triggered and everything is making me on edge. I don’t know what to do to calm down
3 Likes
Hot shower and a movie, maybe with some hot chocolate or frosty iced tea? That’s what I do if I need a calm night.
1 Like
Some things I do to calm down are:
Put an ice pack on the back of your head. This will cool down your brain and reduce activity in your limbic system, where emotions happen.
Do a task with simple, clear steps. I like baking. I follow the recipe, and it’s easy enough that I don’t get frustrated, but it requires enough concentration that I don’t have room to think about other things. Cleaning also helps.
Engage your five senses. This will remind you what is real and what isn’t. Listen to soothing music. Smell something pleasant, like an essential oil. Suck on a hard candy. Look at pictures of things you enjoy. Feel something with an interesting texture, like a piece of Velcro or a stress ball.
Try to levitate something with your mind. You obviously won’t succeed, but it gets you to focus all of your attention on a single point outside your body, instead of on your thoughts. I like to use this on airplanes or in public places, because it doesn’t require you to move at all. It looks like you’re just daydreaming to observers.
Listen to a guided meditation recording
2 Likes
I’m sorry you were abused. I was too. The grounding exercises really do help calm you down a little. For me, it doesn’t make it go away, but it can calm me down just a bit.
1 Like
What’s the purpose of flashbacks?
Why our silly mind keeps recalling
traumas and bad experiences?
It doesn’t help.
What’s the science behind flashbacks?
yea when something happens to me i am bad for like a week cause it keeps going over and over in my head and i need to give it a place in my mind.
I understand your feeling. I hope you feel better soon.
I ended up having flashback nightmares last night despite my best attempts to get things off my mind before I slept. Sigh. I hate this.
1 Like
I’m sorry. Flashback nightmares are horrid. Hope tonight is easier for you.
1 Like
Thanks @Ninjastar I’m just trying to get through my day at work then I’ll deal with tonight. It’s so hard to focus.
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 95 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.