LovebirdsFlying
My husband drew this cartoon of me.
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Sometimes, before I am aware it's happening, I start playing an old scene in my head of something that happened in the past. It can be a situation that was merely unfair, or an event that was downright life-threatening. Regardless of how severe it was, it's always an issue that never got resolved. For example, if somebody committed a crime, they got away with it, or if a family member was hurtful and mean, they never apologized. Then the old angry feelings come up. Only when I realize I'm boiling with rage again does it occur to me I've been remembering those things. Because whatever I'm remembering happened years ago, and the other people involved in it might have even passed away by now, it obviously never WILL be resolved. I'm never going to hear that apology, or the person who committed the crime never will go to jail for it.
I don't like feeling those angry emotions, but I don't know how to quiet them without it sounding like I'm trying to convince myself it wasn't wrong, and that I'm the one who is wrong for thinking it was.
It can happen at any time, for any reason. Often it keeps me from enjoying the present, because my memory is hijacking my emotions. I've had people speak to me, and I couldn't hear what they were saying, because right then I was having a flashback. Fortunately, I have an understanding family now, and I can say to them, "Sorry, I was having a flashback." This helps pull me back into the present. It's not as simple as not thinking about it, though, because I am not aware I'm thinking about it until I start feeling the emotions.
What do you do to handle flashbacks? I don't think I can stop them from happening, so I need to know how to manage them when they do happen.
I don't like feeling those angry emotions, but I don't know how to quiet them without it sounding like I'm trying to convince myself it wasn't wrong, and that I'm the one who is wrong for thinking it was.
It can happen at any time, for any reason. Often it keeps me from enjoying the present, because my memory is hijacking my emotions. I've had people speak to me, and I couldn't hear what they were saying, because right then I was having a flashback. Fortunately, I have an understanding family now, and I can say to them, "Sorry, I was having a flashback." This helps pull me back into the present. It's not as simple as not thinking about it, though, because I am not aware I'm thinking about it until I start feeling the emotions.
What do you do to handle flashbacks? I don't think I can stop them from happening, so I need to know how to manage them when they do happen.