Super anxious, want to have a drink...

[WombatCombat]

But I stopped drinking ages ago. I am having really awful CPSTD flashbacks due to some things that have been in the news recently - trying so hard to not dissociate as then I spend the next several weeks what I did during the "blank" period.

Does anyone have any tips please? I would normally go for a really long, hard run but it is just way too hot to do that safely today.

No proper advise but non alcoholic stuff? No secco?
Fake gin?

Urge surf.

Actually - that's proper advice! I will try it! Anything to get through the next few hours.

<Thank you>

Do you swim? 60 lengths should tire your body out a bit rather than running.

WombatCombat, I find the non alcoholic beer, particularly Saint, to be very good. I hope so much you feel better soon, and good on you for trying so hard to stay strong.

@AmbushedByCake I do but there's not a hope in hell I can get a slot today - managed to get one for tomorrow morning though.

CBD oil to actually take the edge of the anxiety, and then a fake drink to make your body think you've had a lovely calming beer.

And yes - exercise is a good distraction, especially if you can listen to a funny or interesting podcast while you're doing it. I challenge even the worse anxiety attack to keep going through this podcast episode - gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/o2h8bx

Thank you @mbosnz really don't want to let everyone's hard work go to absolute crap over one (quite massive) flashbacky issue when I know I have years of flashbacks ahead of me.

@astoundedgoat Oh, I've never used CBD oil - how quick does it work? Is there any type that is better than the other please?

Google Havening. It seems a bit 'woo' but I find it very calming when I am feeling anxious and it definitely brings my heart rate down.
I would avoid alcohol free versions of alcoholic drinks so you don't associate the flavour with feeling better. Concentrate on finding something calming down high could turn into a habit without being a bad one, if you see what I mean. So camomile tea, or ginger beer, or elderflower presse for example.
Well done on going dry. It can be tough.

I think weather like this can make it so much worse when there is such a culture of alcohol drinking in the sun. If you want to stay close to home, a drink with lots of ice, something like elderflower cordial and some lime or mint. Refreshing, especially if you can almost drink it absentmindedly while reading in the sun.

Otherwise, I would maybe go for a much slower paced stroll, plug some earphones in and listen to a podcast or fave music. Big bottle of iced water with you to sip on while you're out.

Thank you, I am still hanging in there. I've stayed away from the alcohol-free stuff so far, and caffeine and I've cancelled meeting a friend as I absolutely know it will be danger territory, and I suspect she wants to talk about the "news" that is the issue causing all this.

I've had ice cream, my favourite childhood soup and I am going to find a CBD drink which I have never tried but I will see what it is like. Have had a few cold showers too.

Mainly posting all this in case anyone else is going through the same thing or ever searches for a post like this.

I'm in a similar situation, ex problem drinker.

I've got some of the Trip CBD drinks and they're lovely.

@rowkaza sorry you are also going through similar; its really horrible isnt it?

CBD tea.. its legal

Do you find they have any sort of physiological effect, @rowkaza?

I'm also trying to stay dry and have hears varying reports on these, bearing in mind there's no real active ingredient?

Don't want to waste my money on an expensive soft drink if there's no relaxing effect!

The problem in recommending non-alcoholic drinks as that she will have to go to the alcohol aisle in the supermarket to buy them. I think that's too risky.

OP have you tried breath work? Look it up on YouTube. It should really help you.

Yoga?

Do you have the ingredients to fix yourself a refreshing drink? My favourite is sparkling water (tap water is fine too!), with slices of cucumber and mint leaves over ice. Despite the simplicity it feels fancy and might help with your craving... no need to visit the booze (free) aisle as mentioned by PP.

Sorry you're struggling but for what it's worth you come across as being full of self awareness and strength 💪

I think my issue with non alcohol would be oh this isnt doing anything I need the real stuff 😅😅

Please ignore if this is inappropriate but hypnosis/hypnotherapy can be very effective in dealing with trauma. I recently helped a woman who'd lived through several terrible (unrelated) events in quick succession and after she described the memories as if they'd been covered in oil - they were still there but when she thought about them they just slipped away harmlessly. It works by accessing the part of the mind that's hanging on to the painful memories in the fruitless hope of finding a solution and asking that part to let the thoughts go because there is no answer and never will be.

It is hard isn't it. Especially when you're anxious anyway.

I've found the trip drinks really nice. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I've definitely felt more chilled and happy drinking cbd drinks. They seem to do something!

Walk with a pod cast? That’s my calm down of I’m too hot to run or it needs to be a rest day.

Playing Tetris has decent studies behind it as a way of managing the actual flashbacks.

Ah everyone, I just wanted to come back and say thank you again. Managed to calm myself down but it's taken until now and I have totally lost my shit in the meantime.