Posted by Tamar on April 18, 2005, at 4:42:51
In reply to Important question, posted by rainbowbrite on April 17, 2005, at 17:04:45
It sounds as if you're experiencing some kind of hypervigilance, which is very common after something awful happens. Your body is trying to stay as alert as possible so you can protect yourself from further harm. That's probably why your hearing is so acute.
Part of the solution can be to take something that will help. Another part of the solution might be to distinguish between the origin of your feelings and your present situation. Perhaps you were in an unsafe situation, but are you safe now?
The thing that works for me (and I don’t know if it works for everyone) is to remind myself that the feelings of anxiety and fear belong to the past, and that in the present (right here, right now) I’m safe. Once I feel safe enough I can say to myself, “I feel afraid because I was afraid when x happened.” I have to acknowledge the distance between the thing that happened and where I am now. It’s easier said than done, of course!
I hope you begin to feel better soon.
Tamar
poster:Tamar
thread:485403
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050409/msgs/485752.html