Topics

i visited an abuse website and was shocked when the moderator was hostile towards a member who was trying to ask for help with their abusive spouse.  The member even said so.  Before I knew it another moderator got on me and said i was attacking the person for pointing out that the moderators behavior was hostile- i tried to communicate in a polite way with the administrator and was really shocked when their reply was shut up and stop it. Then this administrator blocked me from the site!  A supposedly safe place like that should have had moderators that weren't abusive - and if they were you would think the administrator would address it differently.  I couldn't believe it.  I know the moderator and owner are obviously struggling with abuse themselves, but all day today i have been struggling with emotional flashbacks to my abusive ex who would hurt me like this and not care and blame me.  How do you deal with emotional flashbacks like this? I find i lose a lot of time from it when i could be more productive taking care of stuff i need to do.

i have CPTSD from years of abuse from my ex husband.  Now i have worse case scenario thinking and feel completely at its mercy - often feeling completely terrified. i try to apply CBT and alter my thoughts but the WCS thinking seems overwhelming.  I'd be interested in hearing what others do who experience this problem.

I know intense emotions are one sign I'm in an emotional flashback, but then I always say to myself - but maybe I'm just having these intense emotions about the present situation because of a present situation (that doesn't involve abuse).  I've read that its easier to know you are having a PTSD flashback because there are more signs (visual memories of specific events) but with CPTSD there is just the emotional stuff - it's frustrating to try to figure out if I'm in an emotional flashback.  Would love to hear others thoughts on this.

I don't know what to do about this "double" thing that happens...

I'll be feeling anxious about a current situation (medical), feeling out of control and anxious i'll get hurt.
This triggers flashbacks to when i got hurt and was out of control of a situation in the past with an abusive husband.

The "emotional" flashback "colors" the present situation with extreme emotions (worst case scenarios usually), and its difficult to sort out and deal with the "normal" anxiety one would feel with a medical situation. 

I find myself applying worst case scenario thoughts to present medical situation and believing they are true.  Having the emotional flashback emotions at the same time as the present situations anxiety is really confusing. 

Does anyone have this difficulty?

I get triggered by loud aggressive people and the suggested coping methods I have googled are breathing, muscle relaxation, grounding, which do extremely little for me as far as alleviating the upset I feel.  Am I alone in this?  Can anyone offer other things that have helped them?  I have also tried thinking differently ie. I am safe now , this is not the trauma, but I am still tense and upset.  Help! :-)

My ex abused me for years, physical, emotional' etc.  I have been away from him for many years now but the other night I had a very disturbing dream about him and I wish I could stop thinking about it but it plays over and over in my mind. Its terribly oppressive and upsetting. Question is there some technique to use to help me stop thinking about it?