Grounding yourself with flashbacks

[bell_shell]

Hey I'm not normally one to post online, especially not about this. I have been seeing a psychologist for about 6months on and off and i don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. Every session we talk about how to ground myself when having anxiety or a flashback sort of thing, but i don't feel like I can explain to her how bad it's getting. I don't know if I'm overreacting or if I should actually say something, I've gone from completely blocking out the event to having a nightmare almost every night about it and feeling nauseas/numb mostly everyday constantly. I feel depressed and am trying to hide it with smiles all day and it is so exhausting, even when i go to see her i feel like i need to act happier than I am.

I think I'm just not sure what to do or if this is how it's supposed to go. Sorry for babbling on!

[blondguy]

Hey Bell

Welcome to the forums...I am Paul an will try help...

You are not babbling at all....you have great strength by posting and thankyou for doing so.. I am sorry for the anxiety you are experiencing....it is an awful feeling to have as the symptoms feel so bad. I have had anxiety for many years and understand where you are coming from.

Your psychologist by what you wrote is trying to get you 'to ground yourself' when having an anxiety attack...I know whereshe is coming from.....If I can ask you...how long have you had the anxiety attacks for?

You have done well to book in and see a doc...and that takes guts Bell. Its just my opinion as someone that has had severe anxiety for years ...so please forgive me...I saw my therapist (psychologist) every two weeks for about six months and that gave me a platform on which I could heal...

Your flashback/anxiety is bad news but...very common. I have some friends that havent had the courage to even book an appointment yet! Good on you for doing so well with your healing.

Do you get the anxiety attacks anywhere in particular? ....Traffic....at work....in a crowd?

You are trying so very hard by trying to be your usual happy self and mask it...I did the same....When you go to see her she knows you are being a pleasant person you are...Your psych is trying to get you to open up so you can vent....(thats why there are tissues near you...so you can vent and even have a good cry...)

If you can give any more info about your symptoms and when you get them it will help me try to help you 🙂

One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to use 'calm and gentle acceptance' that the anxiety is there...Your doc will know all about this...It does take time and practice but when you start accepting these bad feelings they do lessen in severity over time with regular visits to your doc:-)

There are many super kind people on the forums that have similar anxiety as you.

You are more than welcome to post back as many times as you wish Bell.Shell

you are not alone...

Paul

[HA1]

Hi bell-shell - and welcome to BB. This your first post, so good on you for reaching out.

My initial reaction is that you have not found the the psych that really understands you. It will make a big difference once you find the right person to help you and treat you. This is evident in your comment that you feel that you need to act happier than you really are when you see her.

Unfortunately, it is a trial and error thing in finding the right one for you. But dont be afraid to say that you will look elsewhere. They are accustomed to that - hey know that there has to be a right fit.

I am eternally grateful for finding the one that I could actually open up to. Very special and very emotional experience.

If you need help in finding one that you can relate to - go and visit your local community health centre and talk to the phsych's there.

Not sure if this has been any help at all. It's just that your post resonated with my search.

Take care and stay safe,

K

[bell_shell]

Thank you both for replying. She is really lovely and truthfully I'm just not a real open person, it took a long time to agree to see her and now It's taking a long time telling her what's actually happening.

She knows why I see her and knows that something happened but I haven't actually been able to tell her exactly what happened, or anyone at all. I can't physically let the words leave my mouth it feels too weird.

I have found the past month I have been getting what I'm guessing are flashbacks? They generally happen at work if someone comes up behind me or in the shopping centre. I've been trying to use the grounding techniques but it's very hard to do when it's actually happening.

I find that it is starting to affect my work and relationships, it's honestly like I'm not even me I'm like a whole other person that feels no emotion just very blank.

Thank you for your kind words.

[geoff]

hi Bell.shell, and thanks to Paul and K for responding first.
It does take quite a few sessions for someone to start to feel comfortable with their counsellor/psych and that usually happens, but once you have the confidence that she is 'really lovely', then you feel more confident, but to say what you need to say does takes awhile, but perhaps instead of talking why don't you write down what has happened so that you can give her the details, but at the end of what you have said tell her that you are nervous and frigthened, then she will just go slowly with you.
I'm no doctor but maybe you are suffering from PTSD but only she or your doctor can diagnose this if it is the case.
It's rather a common comment when you say 'feel no emotion just very blank', but that's what depression of any type does to anybody sufferingfrom this illness, we are too tired and have no emotion, don't want to feel any emotion it's just a dark cloud hovering over your head, so this will relate back to how you relate to your friends, such as they maybe excited over something they have done, but to you it means nothing.
If you need to answer questions by your psych then you could write down the answers on a piece of paper instead of having to talk, maybe this way you could gain some confidence. Geoff. x

[bell_shell]

Thank you again for your kind words.

After much thought I consulted my Dr today to get further help. He has given me some very weak anti depressants to help with what he thinks is PTSD and has advised to try and be more open with my psychologist to get the best results.

I feel a little bit better just knowing that I have a plan in place to get better. I know I can't keep living like this in fear that it will happen again or keep avoiding relationships so it doesn't happen again. It's easier said then done but I know I will get there in the end. I want to be that happy person I portray daily and get the most out of my life.

in the mean time I'm just going to try and be open to the medication and have faith my Dr is on the right track. Fingers crossed 🙂

[blondguy]

Hi bell

"He has given me some very weak anti depressants to help with what he
thinks is PTSD and has advised to try and be more open with my
psychologist to get the best results."

This is great news...a basic dose of meds and 'letting go' when you are seeing your psychologist!

Just my humble opinion as a sufferer but this is really good news 🙂

Kind Thoughts

Paul