How To Stop Flashbacks?

[janemariesayed]

I keep getting a flash of memories come back to me that are really disturbing. They are all of different things, and should not be necessarily painful. Or what I mean is, they wouldn't normally be considered as painful memories. I don't even know why I am finding some of them hurtful.

Okay, a flash of memory about my dog Sasha is understandable to me as she died just a year ago. What I can't understand is I get a flashback of a street, or a place, or a building that I remember when I was in Egypt specifically. It is very strange, it is like a bolt of a painful electric shock going through me for the split of a second.

I am not purposefully thinking of these things, they are just thoughts that come out of the blue. This has been going on for a quite a while now. Any tips how to stop this? Does anyone else suffer this and is this due to anxiety, depression or what?

 

[Concernedgal]

You have ptsd
It sounds that way to me. There are a few types of ptsd. When you see menial things like a street or a building like you mentioned, it's usually iny opinion has to do with a tramatic memory. I would strongly recommend you see your therapist about this. I just know why it's happening. .. I can't tell you though how to stop it. Sorry.

 

[janemariesayed]

Oh dear! I thought I would have with the trauma that I went through over there in Egypt. My Doctor hasn't diagnosed that for me, though, but then again I didn't mention to him about it. I told him mostly about the incest and child abuse and the memory problem. He did 5 blood tests on me and told me that it was because of depression and anxiety and the only way forward was therapy. I asked him if therapy would help and he said he didn't know, but he considered that it was my only hope.

Years ago, about 3 decades I saw my then Doctor and asked him about the incest thing and if I would be all okay inside. He said I looked normal and I would be fine. I told him I was not convinced though and he suggested that I could have a DNA test to check. I had the test and my results came back fine. I don't have any hereditary problem stemming from my parents at all. Quite a relief it was too. Mostly problems like that arise when incest is carried on through three or four generations so I am lucky there.

I think I am going to go back to my Doctor, although it won't be this week as my biological Mom is coming for a stayover visit. I'm also waiting for an assessment for a counselor too which I was expecting last week but never came. So if I don't get any joy from that sometime this week, then I will bring that up with the doc as well.

 

[Concernedgal]

With your history. How could it not be ptsd? I don't understand why your doctor wouldn't consider it. I'm super glad that you have no medical problems that's contributing at the same time though. I'm sorry for long tough road ahead of you . And as far as therapy os concerned ,unfortunately ,that's about 90 percent up to you. I really hope your doctor knows what he or she is doing. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[janemariesayed]

Thanks so much @Concernedgal I am sure I am going to be okay. Life is a daily struggle but I am still here in the life. I know the therapy is going to be hard, but I am determined to get through it, and then watch me fly.....

I still haven't been back to my Doc's to ask him about the PTSD, but I do have an assessment with the therapist coming up. That's on valentines day, ha ha, how nice is that? well, I will probably get myself a nice bottle of vino and pat myself on the back for trying to help myself. I didn't mention the flashbacks to my Doctor, there is too much to say and too little time in the appointment.

I think my therapist will be in touch with my Doctor though so my diagnosis will probably get changed. They will probably change it to 'Mad as a Hatter' disorder!

 

[Decentlady]

@janemariesayed glad to hear that there is no organic problems for you. Flashbacks are a symptom of PTSD however, they become more pronounced when you are either anxious or depressed.

As I always say try to relate/remember these flashback and associate with the events surrounding that time/place. That was you can help your counsellor understand the whole story in a better light.

Try to note/draw them down in a diary and you can connect them. It helps sort out things and reason them out. Remember, reasoning and having insight are the two of your best friends when one wants to keep their mind sane and yah! You will be fine!

 

[janemariesayed]

Thank you @Decentlady for your positive response. I do believe I will be fine. Getting therapy is going to be really good for me in the long run. I have a team behind me and they've decided to work on my agoraphobia first. I'll be seeing different therapists for other specialised subjects. Finally!

 

[AnxietyMuffins]

Flashbacks make me angry and then I cry.

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