Coping with Flashbacks: Tips and Tricks

Hearing my partner's voice & him reassuring me that I'm safe & not in harm's way in any capacity. It takes a little while for me to "re orient" myself after episodes, but he is very patient & understanding as I go through this on a near daily basis.. But he also makes sure I take my medication to help me combat this before bedtime...

This is a very good question, to me, I have multiple voices in my head so there is at least one sensible one telling me to snap out of it ❤️

Closing my eyes and blocking out the outside world

I hug my cat when im at home or my dog depending on my cats mood. If I'm at not home music, singing or laughing I'll try and find a podcast and listen to it.

I text my girlfriend, she is my rock, but she cant always text 24/7

If I'm with someone, I have them hug me really tight and tell me "You're safe. You're in the present. It won't happen again." If I'm alone, I try to look around and point out 5 things I enjoy about my surroundings, and try to think of other things I enjoy while reminding myself I'm in the present which will never be like the past.

I wish I knew? I have Flashbacks. But I can't just bring myself out of them they play out and I'm rattled after words

What can you ask for when you’ve been on different pain meds for fifteen years and you get used to it and they say there’s not a lot more options? The pain just seems to get worse every day. Idk what to do bc if you look up something and ask about if that will work they treat you as a drug seeker. So frustrating!

For me, baking- bread especially. It takes time and focus, but not too much energy and i find it to be very grounding. If I feel angry, I can channel it when mixing and airing out the dough. If I'm sad, I shape it into something new and remind myself that I can make good things. If I'm scared, I can smell it in the oven and feel comforted, then afterwards I share it if possible and again feel comforted and safe in spending time with others. Everyone has differemt coping mechanisms, but that's one of mine :)

If you are able, I play this game called "What is that song". I'll lay on my stomach and my partner or in the past my mother would lightly but firmly pat to the tune of a familiar song. It give stimulation and also gets your brain going on trying to figure out the song. This isn't as great if you're GONE in flashbacks, like actively feeling the flashback, but it helps calming down for me personally. Another way to play is to tap the tune on your fingers. Though this does take a separate person, I've never heard it before on an app like this so I thought I'd share

I find that my service dog is the best at bringing me back. I also practice mindfulness.

Loud music