Contains abuse - Panic attacks/anxiety/PTSD

[EyelinerAndCigarettes]

Hey guys,

I haven't posted in here in years, but I'm in need of some support/advice, so here goes..

Basically, I'm having therapy to address the abuse/grooming/rape I suffered as a child & the more I 'get into' the therapy, the worse my PTSD is getting, the nightmares, & flashbacks are becoming so disabling, I can be walking down the street & just all of a sudden smell certain things that take me back to a particular event (things that aren't even around, like hay or vinegar) & then I'll have a panic attack & I'll have to ring someone to take me home. Also I'm just SO anxious all of the time,, I feel like a child again, waiting for something awful to happen, & so anything can send me into a panic attack.

I don't know what to do about it, other than ride it out? Can anyone recommend anything to help, books or any calming ideas?

Thanks so much,,
Helen

x x x

[Epicene]

What type of therapy are you having exactly? I'm just wondering, as if it is something skills based like DBT then using those skills as coping techniques may be helpful. Sensory things tend to be most powerful, so maybe take something pocket-sized with you when you're out that can comfort you or remind you of the present. I'm doing similar therapy at the moment (looking over past traumatic events), and in the first session my psychologist and I established a safe mental scene for me to imagine in detail whenever I am flasbacking or dissociating. Ideally the scene should be safe and familiar enough to picture in depth.

You have my sympathy because it is a horrible thing to go through, and the therapy can often beighten symptoms in the short term. However, in the long run it should be helpful and I wish you all the best.

[I am a cat]

Hey lovely, I have this problem too. And my therapist gave me a couplfe of things to help that I have found really really useful. One of them is a smell, to carry a smell around with you, when you feel like your anxious just stop for a moent, spray it and really smell the smell!! Another one is a silk patch, just grab some silk from somewhere or cut some off your PJs and then what I do with mine, it comes everywhere with me, and i fiddle with it and rub it and squeeze it, so its like all my anxiety stays inside the silk patch.
I have loads more, but Im drugged up on my meds.
Hope your ok lovely twin face <3

[crazykat]

Hi Helen
It is hard when therapy brings up alot of stuff up, often making the flashbacks etc worse. I find grounding can be very helpful for me. So carrying around something with you in your pocket that you can feel that can help bring you back into the present moment. Also self-talk can help so remind yourself that you are safe, that your an adult now and no one is hurting you anymore. Also describing what you can physically see, smell, hear etc using your senses can help bring your awareness back into the present moment too. Hold on there, things will improve over time.

[Patent Pending]

Hey,

I was just wondering how you were doing?

I hope therapy is helping with these things.

x x x