Could this be PTSD or something else?

[lucielle]

Not sure if anyone can help me out.
I'm too embarrassed to talk to anyone in real life even though I know I should.

It's a bit hard to explain but I'm having moments where I get a ' flashback' of something that happened in my childhood and then this will be followed by a feeling of sadness that other children might be experiencing this too.

For example i grew up with an alcoholic father and I remember me and my mum led in bed together in the darkness, listening to him smash things up and we would lie there too scared to breathe. After I remember this I begin to feel extremely sad for other children who are in this situation. I feel helpless. I want to save them from this happening but I can't.
I just feel so much sadness about it all.

There are other examples too but I won't bore you all. So I was just wondering if this could be some type of PTSD or something similar. I'm a very anxious person so maybe it's my anxiety getting bad.

Thank you to whoever reads this. It feels better to get it written down.

I can’t say from what you’ve written whether that’s PTSD, but whether it is or not, it’s causing you distress and I think you should talk to a doctor and get some help for it.

Sending you hugs and good vibes, I’ve had PTSD and it’s really shit so hope you can get some support

It sounds more like intrusive memories rather than a flashback.

Flashbacks are when your brain literally thinks you are back in the traumatic event again. You re live it and the feelings you have are exactly the ones you had then. It can take awhile before your brain realises that you are not then, but now.

This doesn’t mean you don’t have post traumatic stress. Flashbacks are only one symptom. You’d probably benefit with trauma counselling regarding your childhood.

Yes definitely intrusive memories not flashbacks. I'm too embarrassed to talk to my GP. Especially at a time like this when I feel it's not really worthy enough for their time.

Thank you both for replying, it means a lot.

I think you can self-refer to the psychological well-being service in most of the UK. Search for “pws” “self-refer” and you county name.
Alternatively, there is Mind which is a charity that helps people struggling with things and they can help you as well. If you go to their website, you will be able to find your local Mind and get in touch with free volunteer counsellors and support groups.

Thank you @PlanDeRaccordement I will look into that.