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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Keep thinking about traumatic event. What are coping mechanisms that work?

47 replies

helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:10

Think about the event or the person every single day. Have done for years. Sometimes i see their face in actors or I think about it when I am drinking tea or looking at a photo and then that cup or photo (or whatever else there is) and then that cup is their cup That photo is their photo.
I bought them a selection box one year to try to mend bridges. Now selection boxes belong to them and it tars every single Christmas

l need to get over it. certain actors remind me of them. Especially if they play a predatory role. I can't watch so many good films because of it or read books because there is a film.
its hard to explain.

For example. (this will be easy to explain in one example how it is effecting me daily)
Imagine 50 shades of grey.
The actors looks like the person.
So every film the main 2 actors are in have to be avoided.
All of the books have to be avoided and the next films in the series. This was hard when there were busses and billboard posters everywhere.
The book starts with her brushing her hair so now brushing my hair reminds me of this event or person
the number 50 now has to be avoided.
and the colour grey.

I've never watched or read it or even been interested in it. But now I can't brush my hair or my daughters hair, have 50 on the volume or have to turn my phone off when it hits 50.
grey was a popular colour scheme and 2 friends painted their living rooms grey. Well I can't go to their houses because it reminds me of the thing I'm trying to avoid.

It is so irrational but one actor looks like someone so now I have lost hair brushing, the number 50, the colour grey and visuts to 2 friends houses.
Now imagine another actor is in the marvel avengers series... My kid likes Iron man but .... its happening again.
or the date. or the place. They are family so sometimes Christmas, or my parents house is invaded. All of the letters of their name.

it was over 10 years ago now
and peaking.

We saw them by chance on our family holiday. I managed to block it out and I completely forgot they were even there. My dh reminded me that we bumped into them. Now that holiday has to be forgotten. All of the little trinkets or clothes we took has that person attached. They have never been to my home but over the years every thing in there has the memory or reminds me of the person.

It is getting ridiculous.
I felt so sick this morning. Hadn't slept a single wink was awake until 7 am. then up with the children.

Having a shower helps because I can feel I can clean myself and start again but it only takes until I dry my hair and need to brush it when it starts again

I actually don't brush my hair for days at a time, its pretty fine and straight so not too bad for a couple of days. I can plait it and it keeps neat for a while but I am just slowly losing everything.

I didn't think about it for the first 4 years at all, they moved away and were only mentioned occasionally. Now they are back there is a reminder in everything.

OP posts:
helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:12

Bumping

OP posts:
helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:13

Oh also could you try not to guess what the trauma was please? I can't

OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 30/11/2021 12:15

Have you had professional help? You absolutely need trauma therapy.

CrumbsThatsQuick · 30/11/2021 12:16

just replying so you don't keep having to bump.

I am so sorry you are feeling this way. In the nicest possible way, you need proper, professional psychological help with what you are going through. someone will come along and let you know where to look for this. maybe start with your GP?

Chimley · 30/11/2021 12:17

I think you need to refer yourself for therapy because this level of thinking is debilitating for you.

OneCuppaChar · 30/11/2021 12:18

Op you need to find therapies that suit you. CBT will help with symptoms and coping strategies. Long term psychotherapy/counselling to help you process the original trauma and its consequences. You have been living with this for over 10 years, healing will take time. Therapy is an investment in yourself and you will recover.

EeeByeGummieBear · 30/11/2021 12:19

Please go to your GP and asked to be referred for trauma focussed therapy (CBT or EMDR). This will be difficult to go through, but it sounds like things are very difficult for you anyway.
Strategies and techniques will just push the memory away, rather than process it.

WireyGirl · 30/11/2021 12:22

It would be really helpful to seek out some specialist trauma therapy, it seems that to cope with your trauma your brain has used OCD, so now the OCD and trauma are linked.

I would think you need someone who really is a specialist and that EMDR would be a good place to start.

You can absolutely move on where the trauma is in the past and not in your everyday life.

Good luck.

helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:38

probably should have added i was hospitalised and suicidal a couple of years ago. sectioned so against my will.

I was in a very bad place, was promised therapy that never materialised. I am under no care now.
I am not sure what happened I was on the waiting list for a psychologist. Then my doctor left and the new doctor said I needed therapy. Them I changed teams and the new doctor said I didn't need it. I can't afford to go private.

I am worried about going back to doctors also because the last time I went, I had to have an internal examination. I was wearing old pants, unshaven, not expecting it. It was fine, female. Lovely very caring but I was caught off guard and it just was too close to what happened before.
So I havent even gone and sorted out contraception yet. Which is obviously effecting my relationship.

Also the doctor keeps pushing for the coil but I don't know why, I couldn't explain why I couldn't have it (phone covid I was hoping for prescription for minipill and phone call but when she asked If I would consider the coil again I just put the phone down and didn't answer when she called back and haven't been since. Small surgery so I am embarrassed. She pushed for coil because I refused to take medication in hospital so she thinks I won't take the mini pill as I have form for not taking daily medication. She snapped and said I would become pregnant again if I didn't have a the more permanent contraception.
its all just a big mess. I feel like my whole life is literally orbiting this sun of an event and its so old now. I can't face the doctor because I got flustered when she suggested the coil and couldn't articulate so I just put the phone down? now doctors are on the list of no go's?

My life is all a big mess.
I have children i can't avoid the doctor forevermore. or hair brushes. or the increasing list of numbers, places, dates, times...

thank you for replying at all. easier anonymously.

OP posts:
blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:39

It sounds like you're talking about contamination. Everything gets contaminated with the original event. It's not uncommon in trauma Flowers. People find different things helpful - EMDR, rewind technique but iyam I would suggest longer term therapy with someone well qualified probably psychodynamic as I'm not sure the shorter term treatments like CBT will really do the job. FlowersDaffodil

helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:44

I know it just sounds like I am making excuses and I am. nothing has happened to me in over a decade. So why was it ok? manageable before?

I was coping. whatever coping mechanisms I had have been lost and replaced with weird blocks.

OP posts:
helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:45

Contamination
that is exactly what it is.
Thank you jam
thank you all

OP posts:
blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:46

Delayed trauma response. Very common.

Could go to GP and say, ok so ten years ago this happened. I think I have PTSD. I'd like to do an 'impact of events scale' and be referred for long term psychotherapy.

helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:47

I have just typed trauma contamination into Google and the first thing that came up was disgust.
its like the disgust
this also helps thanks im googling everything.

OP posts:
blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:47

The weird blocks you describe are simply a very clever way at attempting to function. But they often stop working or become extremely tiring Flowers

HollowTalk · 30/11/2021 12:48

Could your husband call the doctor and talk to her about the contraception issue? I can understand how you felt but she's in the dark over it and could probably do with making sense of your decision.

Flowers
helpmecope · 30/11/2021 12:49

jam, do you know if I could get my dh to ask for me or does it have to be me? the idea of calling the dr again is making my skin feel vile
and thanks so much.

Feels very ocd with intrusive thoughts aswell.

OP posts:
blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:49

Books by

Peter Levine
Babette Rothschild
Bessel van de kolk
Judith Herman

All bibliotherapy SmileFlowers

spudjulia · 30/11/2021 12:51

It doesn't sound like your making excuses. It sounds like you've dug yourself into a massive hole and now it's all overwhelming - too overwhelming for you to get out alone.

You do need some help. If you have to go through your GP for help, then think of a way round that problem - print out your posts here (which explains it all so clearly), and hand it to GP? Or email it? Or find a new GP? That seems like the most immediate obstacle to me.
Sincere best wishes with getting some help.

blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:52

Helpmecope I'm not sure. Could you write it down and go in for an appointment and give the GP the note? I completely understand. Part of trauma is being unable to speak the unspeakable but it is your way through to healing. But perhaps to the GP you could find another way until you get to a therapist who you can build trust with and then tell them, which I appreciate might sound completely impossible right now

LuneyTunes · 30/11/2021 12:53

Gosh I'm so sorry. I have no insight to offer, but I sounds like you need some professional therapy to target the origination and source of all of this to begin to start living a normal life again. Wishing you well Flowers

WilliamofBaskerville · 30/11/2021 12:54

EMDR therapy could be very useful for you. I have intrusive traumatic thoughts that sometimes stop me from sleeping, and I recently did a course of sessions that have really helped. They desensitise the triggers for you and help alter the images in your head so that they don’t provoke the same response. Of course, just my luck, once I’ve finished I read about something that has now caused a new trigger! But I feel better able to cope with it and also have some more sessions booked in the new year where I will deal with it. I would highly recommend it.

blackcurrantjam · 30/11/2021 12:54

It does sound a little OCD which is why I'm saying psychodynamic or longer term rather than cbt..

Ask for a different GP?

Bunce1 · 30/11/2021 12:56

I would suggest going to the doctor with your DH so he can advocate for you and push for some therapy.

MatildaTheCat · 30/11/2021 12:57

@helpmecope

jam, do you know if I could get my dh to ask for me or does it have to be me? the idea of calling the dr again is making my skin feel vile and thanks so much.

Feels very ocd with intrusive thoughts aswell.

Could you consider writing it down for your GP? You’ve written about this very eloquently here. If you believe therapy would help say so.

I benefited from therapy and EMDR. I imagine some form of medication may also decrease the intensity of these intrusive thoughts.

Very best wishes to you. Things really can improve.

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