Life and trauma

[Just]

@avant-garde @Former-Member I have door cameras. And it makes me feel better, just knowing they are there 

[avant-garde]

@Jynx 

You around?

[Former-Member]

I got these duckies the other day, just cos I can ❤️. 

 @Oaktree @MJG017 @Jynx 

[Former-Member]

@Jynx I'm not sure what's going on but for the last hour I've been having really vivid flashbacks 😕

[Jynx]

oh rough as @Former-Member 🥺

What can I do to support you hun? Do you know what tends to be helpful when flashbacks kick off? Here with ya 💜

[Former-Member]

@Jynx I've never experienced this before. Like I remember events but this is something else. I can literally feel these things happening to me again. I started a new medication last night and I'm wondering if it can cause this. 

[Jynx]

Oh no @Former-Member double extra scary then, you poor dear. I dunno if you have brain space for reading right now (panic brain tends to be unruly hey) but we got a few tips for coping with flashbacks here.

First tip in there:

"If you are experiencing a flashback, it's important to tell yourself that it's not an actual event and that your reaction is a common response.

Try to keep your eyes open and look around, remind yourself that the feelings and sensations you are experiencing are from the past and that the worst is over and you survived."

You got a psych appt or doc appt in next few days so you can talk to them about it?

[Former-Member]

@Jynx thanks for the tip. I can't read much right now as I keep going in and out of focus. 

My next appointment isn't until the 17th with my doctor. 

[Jynx]

Thought that would be likely @Former-Member no worries, you can always come back to it later. 

I think it does really help to find ways to tether yourself to the present. How do you go calling support lines? Sorry I've forgotten if that's something you find helpful or not - but having a real person there in a more immediate-response kind of way can help keep our attention on the here and now. 

I think if it persists, maybe see if you can get an earlier appt? But obvs for right now we are just focusing on self-care and self-soothing so feel free to ignore this thought entirely. 

You got some teddies or stuffed animals? I find texture to be a helpful way to ground, especially if it is fuzzy 😊