Advice for flashbacks/night terrors please?
I've been experiencing an increase in the frequency and severity of flashbacks.
I have CPTSD and there's been a lot of different highly intense traumatic events.
I've been dealing with them for a long time, however, I'm finding myself completely reliving some of those experiences, visually and emotionally and I'm very unsure of what to do. If my partner wakes me up while having a nightmare I feel very frightened and unsafe but if I'm left with it I'm in severe distress. In terms of flashbacks it's getting difficult to snap out of them.
Are there any techniques anyone could share to calm down and regain my control in those situations?
I am still trying to get trauma counselling and a medication review but the waiting lists are ridiculous, and this is making those around me and myself very upset. This has been an ongoing struggle (to receive therapy or treatment) for years.
I have tried alternative therapies such as DBT, Talking therapy, occupational therapy and CBT but I'm at a loss of what I can do to cope.
@Purpledaze2572. There are different techniques that people use although it can be different what helps for each person.
Some people use grounding techniques like 54321. Name 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you feel, 2 things you smell and 1 you taste.
I like to ground myself by telling myself things like: The past is over. .It was just a memory of a past event this feeling will pass. (I have to repeat this several times). If I’m still very agitated I use this video to calm down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXZ5l7G6T2I