Flashbacks tend to trigger eating disorder behaviours. Certain type of food, situations, feelings or sounds stimulate memories of past traumas and makes the sufferer “re-live” an experience. I experience flashbacks quite a lot. I face the situations which led me to my ED every day. I got used to certain brain-imagery and am learning how to cope with flashbacks.
Sometimes, these flashbacks feel so real that my anxiety levels sky rocket. Anxiety creates chaos, chaos creates mood changes and I would end up with no-so-great feelings.
It is very normal to experience flashbacks after a traumatic experience. You have to remember that you are never alone and that the flashback will be over in few minutes. When I feel a flashback coming, I usually try to talk it out with someone, this way I do not feel alone. Sometimes I write or read, other days I distract myself by going for a walk or shopping.
Something which I am working on is breathing. When you are in “panic-mode”, your heartbeat along with your breathing rate increase and adrenaline kicks in. When you feel panicky, breathe slowly. Breathe in and out and try to relax the muscles of your face and head. Under alarming circumstances, the jaws clench and the neck and scalp muscles tense and contract causing tension headaches. When you feel such tension, put both your index and middle finger on your temples and using a circular motion try to relax that area in order to reduce tension.
Sometimes, these flashbacks feel so real that my anxiety levels sky rocket. Anxiety creates chaos, chaos creates mood changes and I would end up with no-so-great feelings.
It is very normal to experience flashbacks after a traumatic experience. You have to remember that you are never alone and that the flashback will be over in few minutes. When I feel a flashback coming, I usually try to talk it out with someone, this way I do not feel alone. Sometimes I write or read, other days I distract myself by going for a walk or shopping.
Something which I am working on is breathing. When you are in “panic-mode”, your heartbeat along with your breathing rate increase and adrenaline kicks in. When you feel panicky, breathe slowly. Breathe in and out and try to relax the muscles of your face and head. Under alarming circumstances, the jaws clench and the neck and scalp muscles tense and contract causing tension headaches. When you feel such tension, put both your index and middle finger on your temples and using a circular motion try to relax that area in order to reduce tension.
Flashbacks can be energy killers. Distract yourself by taking a bath, listen to relaxing music, have a warm relaxing drink (like chamomile) or meditate. At the moment of a flashback, you need to take utmost care of yourself!
Do not let a flashback ruin your progress. Learn how to cope with flashbacks and move on with your life. The past will always try to haunt you down and destroy what you have built. You need to be strong in order to destroy your past. If you keep living in your past, your future will always be your past. Work towards detaching yourself from the flashback. Learn to be the spectator of your past rather than the participant. Appreciate who you have become and bury what tried to destroy you.
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Do not let a flashback ruin your progress. Learn how to cope with flashbacks and move on with your life. The past will always try to haunt you down and destroy what you have built. You need to be strong in order to destroy your past. If you keep living in your past, your future will always be your past. Work towards detaching yourself from the flashback. Learn to be the spectator of your past rather than the participant. Appreciate who you have become and bury what tried to destroy you.
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