PTSD and Trauma recovery

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Ol' Jet

Did it ever mention "body flashbacks?" Like you not only remember, but your body feels the experience?

The book did not, but I experience this.

Sometimes, when I get a massage for example, its like trauma is stored in my muscles? I know that sounds weird.

Or something stressful will trigger me, like the holidays.

I have been having this newish thing done call Brain Spotting. it seems to be helping. Something to think about.

I sort of stutter, when I was a kid, my father would threaten me or hit me when I stuttered, so now I have weird pauses to keep from stuttering.
I pretend I can't think of the right word to say.

I have been having a hard time so far this year too. Lot's of old stuff coming up.

When I get spun out electrical stuff does not work around me, stuff jumps off walls, once a sword jumped off a shelf and stabbed into the floor straight up (the day I was on the way to the hospital for my hysterectomy). I check things over and over....I am way hyper vigilant, way high startle response...zero affect.

Anyway, thank you all for sharing.

Thinking about you all and hoping things ease up.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Ol' Jet

Did it ever mention "body flashbacks?" Like you not only remember, but your body feels the experience?

Originally Posted by Selenay

These are also called somatic memories.

Thank you, Selly.

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

The book did not, but I experience this.

Sometimes, when I get a massage for example, its like trauma is stored in my muscles? I know that sounds weird.

Or something stressful will trigger me, like the holidays.

Our brains are so complex and so adaptable that they will do whatever it is that we need them to do in order to survive whatever traumatic event is happening, whether it be shutting down, zoning out/disassociating, hyper-focusing on one tiny, specific thing, turning things inward, or a thousand other coping mechanisms.

However, I believe that....while the brain can learn to protect and forgive and, if needed, forget....the body cannot. The body cannot forget the things done to it. For example, raised hands ellicit cringes or muscle tightening at least, even years after the last time that body was struck.

I don't think it's a bad thing, as it is a learned response to keep us safe, but it definitely can mess with someone....especially when we think we've had things under control and then something happens to remind us that we're not as in control as we thought.

*sigh*