Advice for Traumatic Flashbacks in LittleSpace

[Lizy421]

TW: Pet death

 

TL;DR: I remembered something really traumatizing in little space and need help overcoming the bad memories while in little space.

 

So a month ago we had a month old kitten out of a litter that got really sick and it was clear she was suffering and wasn’t going to make it, so we decided it was best to shoot her and put her out of her misery. I did the deed myself, for closure’s sake. The whole ordeal was quite traumatizing, and I thought I was healed quite well from it. That turned out to not be the case because 5 days ago I was the deepest I’ve been in little space (I’m still relatively new) when I got a flashback to that morning and what I had to do, and had a severe panic attack. It was the first time I had experienced something like that in Little Space, and now, I’m having trouble entering little space without thinking about it and feeling strong negative emotions. I am also scared of other trauma popping up now.

 

Any advice for handling bad memories in little space?

 

Please any help is welcome.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Lizy421

[junebug0325]

Heya,

 

I first want to say that I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I know that death, in any circumstance, can be very traumatizing. 

 

I have diagnosed PTSD, and have flashbacks often. There is no right or wrong way to deal with them, since everyone is different.

 

The best and easiest way I am able to come down from an episode is to be hugged, tightly. It makes me feel safe and protected, and often times, listening to someone else's heart beat or breath causes my body to sync up with them and physically helps my body calm down. I also like to be wrapped in a blankie burrito for the same reason.

 

I learned a "grounding" technique from my therapist. Basically, you pick up and touch items around you. This helps you not focus on your flashback, and brings you back to the "real world." There's a bunch of different grounding techniques, and you should look and see if some of them help you. Here's some links for you to look at:

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques#physical-techniques

 

https://scottjeffrey.com/how-to-ground-yourself/

 

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions or just someone to talk to! My pms are always open! 

 

 

 

 

Junebug x.

[Guest clumsy_little]

I agree with junebug. Death of the ones you hold dear to can have effects like that. My uncle passed away last year. Being his favorite niece, I mourned the most after his death. Now, whenever I get flashbacks about him, I just hold onto the stuffie he gave me. Mr Cookie has always been with me since I was adolescent and still is the first one I hold whenever I get flashbacks or panic and anxiety attacks. That's my way of dealing with it. 

[Lizy421]

Heya,

 

I first want to say that I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I know that death, in any circumstance, can be very traumatizing. 

 

I have diagnosed PTSD, and have flashbacks often. There is no right or wrong way to deal with them, since everyone is different.

 

The best and easiest way I am able to come down from an episode is to be hugged, tightly. It makes me feel safe and protected, and often times, listening to someone else's heart beat or breath causes my body to sync up with them and physically helps my body calm down. I also like to be wrapped in a blankie burrito for the same reason.

 

I learned a "grounding" technique from my therapist. Basically, you pick up and touch items around you. This helps you not focus on your flashback, and brings you back to the "real world." There's a bunch of different grounding techniques, and you should look and see if some of them help you. Here's some links for you to look at:

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques#physical-techniques

 

https://scottjeffrey.com/how-to-ground-yourself/

 

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions or just someone to talk to! My pms are always open! 

 

 

 

 

Junebug x.

Thank you so much for replying. It means so much to get help on this. I reviewed the links you included and the grounding techniques have already begun helping. It also has given me comfort knowing that I am not alone in this!

 

Do you have any advice on how to avoid/stopping yourself from dwelling on the negativity? The grounding has helped a lot but there is still that lingering sensation of dread in my brain and my little space brain still is struggling because of it.

 

Again any advice is welcome.

[junebug0325]

Thank you so much for replying. It means so much to get help on this. I reviewed the links you included and the grounding techniques have already begun helping. It also has given me comfort knowing that I am not alone in this!

 

Do you have any advice on how to avoid/stopping yourself from dwelling on the negativity? The grounding has helped a lot but there is still that lingering sensation of dread in my brain and my little space brain still is struggling because of it.

 

Again any advice is welcome.

 

Heya! 

 

I am so glad you were able to use the grounding techniques I shared with you. There are a bunch of different grounding techniques and I wanted to share some for you because I know that everyone is different in what helps them. Also, what helps one time might not help another, so knowing a couple different techniques to help you also comes in handy.

 

I, personally, am still struggling with that sense of dread you mention. The best thing that helps me is distraction. Keeping myself busy is the best thing to distract myself from dwelling on the negativity. The best thing I've discovered is keeping my brain active. So things like watching videos, cartoons, shows, movies aren't keeping your brain active and therefore aren't much of a distraction. Obviously, everyone is different but for me it doesn't help as much as say, playing games, coloring, reading, crafting something, etc. These keep my brain more active and force me to focus on something. 

 

You are definitely not alone in this. I've seen a bunch of posts on here about anxiety and trauma, but I'm glad that you are able to feel comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

Junebug x. 

[Kitten&Spice]

June bug is definitely right on the “grounding” technique! It is extremely useful and I myself would highly recommend this! I am really sorry to hear about the loss and that it takes an awful lot of courage and strength to be able to do that.

 

I myself have experienced the loss of pets and it is not an easy process in any way. Pets are like family and the loss we feel is just as real and heartbreaking as losing someone in many cases. I think that this will be something that will take time for you. Just trust the process and work one healing at this time!

 

Just know that little space is; in some cases, the way we feel most vulnerable. This could be a prime example of your bodies way of healing. If you have repressed your feelings or haven’t allowed yourself to heal then those thoughts and emotions will find their way to surface. And to me it seemed like it surfaced when you were in your little space.

 

I hope that this helped in some way and that you are able to find some healing and comfort.