No doubt about it in my world. The random nature of flashback triggers royally sucks. For my psycho nickel, being triggered by mindless fun isn't anywhere near as wicked as being triggered during a more serious event, like a traffic ticket, parent/teacher conference or the sudden appearance of surgical team look-alikes in the grocery store. Whatever the trigger, flashbacks suck, both literally and figuratively.

*****clink*****

Here's to hoping that we can find better coping mechanisms than cutting, isolation and insomnia. I hold the crying and screaming as cathartic. I proactively use both as therapy tools for managing my flashbacks, etc.

Agreed on that And, yes, PTSD is... that way. I have had to leave movie theaters,. It sucks.

Yeah, I live alone without a room mate because something might trigger me like that, too, out of the blue. I hold it together like you did for a while, but it's too exhausting to hold it together forever. Sending you support--you're not alone in this.

I can understand movie theaters messing with you, but a stupid tv show. And the friend I was with, not a threat or a prob, so idk why I freaked like I did.

My own flashbacks can be triggered by some of the most innocent and obscure of reminders. Someone using the same turn of phrase as one of my childhood trauma perpetrators can transport me through time and space to relive trauma I have managed to forget within my conscious stream of thought. However deeply I repress, that memory is still there. "Freaky" doesn't quite cover the experience of having those repressed memories emerge as flashbacks and/or nightmares.

In this scenario, the background stories matter quite allot. I still hate re-telling my trauma tales from being raised as a child prostitute, but. . . Those are where the problem lies. The meanest lies in the world are the ones I tell myself.

"I'm over ^it^."
"I've moved on."
"The past is gone."
"I am fine. How are you?"

My abuser purposely, methodically took everyday items (toothbrush, fork, pens etc...) and used them to violate, harm, torture me. I've had the terms "hard wired", "brainwashed" associated with my upbringing/childhood. So yes, there are totally unexpected, seemingly harmless situations where memories, flashbacks, terror occur. I've been asked to not return to libraries, schools, museums etc. because of strong reactions that I have unexpectedly had. Humiliating, embarrassing. I no longer go out in public unless I absolutely have to. Yes, totally weird but real nonetheless. Hugs

I cannot have any shows movies or music that remind me of my older son on or around me and godforbid wwe wrestling it was his favorite smells really bother me certain perfumes some days I can’t wear them Bc it will bring me back to possibly a bad time or bad memories I am learning it Is all part of ptsd since they finally made the diagnosis instead of just panic disorder I knew it felt more deeply rooted and scary prayers for all of us going through this it’s so hard