How to cope with severe flashbacks at school/college?

35mm · 16-12-2009, 08:01 PM

Hi, I'm so sorry for posting another thread. I feel quite selfish because you're all being so helpful and I rarely post :/ Sorry sorry sorry!

I'm doing terrible in school right now. It's my last year and I need my grades to go to university next year (AAA). But I'm ruining it all. Whnever I'm sitting in class and have a flashback (sexual abuse) I always have to run out of the class and out of the school so i can be in fresh air and away from everybody. It's getting me into a lot of trouble (if the CPO finds out i've gone she always calls the police, and they say i'm wasting a lot of police time) and I'm also missing a lot of my education. It happens every few days, and it's not possible for me to just sit there and let them pass.

Does anybody have any advice/suggestions? I look like a moron when it happens, and I run out in tears. I try to just close my eyes and block everything out until it passes but it doesn't pass.

35mm · 16-12-2009, 08:02 PM

I'm on the waiting list for counselling by the way. Might take up to 3 months for them to see me.

shadow-light · 16-12-2009, 08:11 PM

I get triggrred a lot in lectures too... it is awful... do any of your teachers know about it? sometimes when they do they will let you leave the room for a few mns (pretend going to toilet or whatever) to let you calm a bit and re-group.

There is a link to the flashback thread in my signature which has a list of grownding methods. I good one in lessons though is to pick a colour and cont the items of that colour in the room

35mm · 16-12-2009, 08:17 PM

Thank you for the colour tip. I will try that too.

Well, two teachers (CPO and tutor) know about general circumstances (one of them had to give a statement too!) but neither know I'm getting flashbacks. I think they're getting a bit sick of me to be honest.

Mrs Sam · 16-12-2009, 08:39 PM

From their point of view its understandable why you are getting into so much trouble, they don't know the full story and therefore probably presume your just doing it for the hell of it. I think it would help you a lot if you could talk to them and explain what is going on. You don't need to go into much detail just the basics. Maybe they could organise a safe place for you to go when this happens like a quiet room/office for you to sit in. Explain to them what you need during a flashback i.e no physical contact or grounding activities or something.

It sounds like they are trying to be there for you but by leaving school you are causing yourself more bother and it definitely wont help your grades by missing lessons.

Hope you find some way of getting through this time hun xxx

Absynnthe · 17-12-2009, 02:43 AM

This is a good thread for me. I'm having the same kinda problems.

One thing I find that helps me is keeping a chart that has colours in different colours from the name on the card.... >.< Okay, so...

Green Blue Purple White

Yeah...Try saying rhe colour not the word. :) Or vise versa.