I have flashbacks about a childhood incident, please help.?

Question

I started having flashbacks 2 months ago over a 2 day period where they just kept coming. They eased off for awhile but have started up again. I've been very stressed with what is happening in my life and think that might've triggered it. I have researched since the initial flashbacks and have found evidence that does support delayed recall. Still, I sometimes don't want to believe it. It being these... traumatic memories of childhood sexual abuse when I was 5. Is it really possible or am I just tricking myself? Why would my brain concoct an elaborate hoax in my head? I don't want it to be me, this shouldn't have happened to me. I had no memories, save one that never made much sense, about this and now they are popping up vividly and frightenly. If anyone has any advice or has been through what I'm going through, please speak out. I really want to see a therapist but it's not an option at this time.

Answer 1

I agree researching may help you understand tha nature of these flashes but it will likely not help you resolve the flashbacks themselves. These flashes you describe do sound legit and like ptsd. When the mind encounters something so aweful it just won't deal with it, the subconscious can repress it to such a degree as to completely hide it from you. It can remain hidden for years. When it begins to involuntarily surface like this your subconscious is attempting to get it out and deal with it. As your conscious mind slowly accepts more and more of it... it will continue to surface as you can cope. You are wise to be at least somewhat skeptical of the legitimacy of these repressed memories... but even skepticism can be driven by underlying desires to deny and push it back into hiding. You can deny these or you can accept these as something you will eventually have to deal with. Do not avoid it simply because it is painful to deal with. Like mourning a death... it is necessary to experience the pain in order to work through all the feelings and to emerge on the other side. And denial will not change any of the facts.
I also strongly urge you to NOT go through this alone. These are not guilt feelings like stepping on an ant when you were a kid. This sounds like something very serious. If it is, it will likely not go away or be forced back into hiding. You my not be able to avoid the pain of dealing with it, but you do not have to go through it alone. Seek out a support system, family or friends you could actually talk to and be completely honest with. A professional therapist would by far be the best starting point as they are completely removed from the rest of your life. You won't have to worry about them telling anyone or being biased in their support. Only in an environment in which you feel safe enough to be honest about this will you be able to begin to put it all together and deal with it. I know you said this is not an option but it is well worth the effort to try to make it work. I wish you the best.

Answer 2

If this did happen, your mind may be one that doesn't want to remember a negative occasion so it suppresses the memory. {I did that too, and didn't remember the situation until the memories started coming back} It may also be since you were 5, you may just not remember. Some people can't remember things that happened when they were five.

And having flashbacks and nightmares, etc. about a traumatic event is called Post Traumatic Stress. It's completely normal for these symptoms to not occur instantly. It helps to have a therapist to give you tips to handle PTS, but if that is not an option, email me and I can help you out a bit.

Answer 3

Allow me to help;I am a person who had been through that trauma all over my childhood.I have been abused by both men and women.I have crossed fifty now,still,even now I have got difficulty in interacting with people.I am always scared of other people knowing it.Because, in my childhood,my activities were wellknown among my people and I was always discarded as a dirty unwanted cloth.I had never received any help only accusations and ridicules.Nobody understood how helpless I am.But now,I can proudly state I have withstood those challenges in life very succesfully.Everywhere,in my school,colleges,work areas,I was looked upon as a person with a low moral character.Finally,I decided I cant stand it any more,I have started doing what I have always loved doing.Reading.And, I can assure you,it is the biggest therapist,the other physically present therapist is the biggest mistake.I have been to them,but they can only interact through their experiences only.If you are not a religiously prejudiced person, I would suggest you attend some christian revival meeting or charismatic or such like.Dont make the mistake of taking your troubles to the leaders.They are worse with their snooty moral outlook.One of them have openly labelled me sinner in front of the crowd.I am not a sinner.I am sure of it.It just happened.Noone to blame.I am at peace with myself..Any way,I have started concentrating on the soothing teachings in the Bible,and I am calm and happy now.I have learned to pray everytime of the day,make peace with my family evertime there is a quarrel.So whatever happened in the past it is over for ever should be like that for you.

Answer 4

Some times the brain and memory can do strange things. The problem is that sometimes it is real or just a bunch of jumbled memories that have formed together. If you have been subjected to sexual abuse then try and find out if others who you where growing up with were abused as well and go to the police together. You should also see a psychiatrist for help.

Answer 5

I have flashbacks quite often of something that happened to me when I was young. Yes they are frightening I know, but you can get through it. You should go to you're local GP and they might be able to recommend a councilor for you to talk to. it sounds like you might be suffering from the same disorder that I do, it's called P.T.S.D (post traumatic stress disorder).
If you want to, look it up on the net for more info and see if you have any other symptoms. I'm not a psychiatrist or any other proffessional. I just understand what you're going through because I had that happen to me.
Good Luck and stay positive, things will get better eventually.

Answer 6

Hi Hun! Yes I have been through childhood sexual abuse and yes I have flash backs too. There really isn't anything you can do for the flash backs other then maybe get on some medication that will help you cope better with them. No your mind is not playing tricks on you. You have had to be sexually abused to have these vivid flash backs. The best thing that helps me with them is to tell myself that it is not happening right now. That it happened in the past. I know how you feel when you say you don't want it to be you. I didn't want it to be me neither. I prayed to God and asked him why me. Through the years people asked me how can you believe in god after all you have been through. You know what i told them, I told them "It wasn't God who did this to me, It was human beings and the devil !!" I was severly sexually molested for 20 years. Yes I was so brain washed the perpertraitors even tricked me into believeing that it was ok to have sex with them. I hated it but felt trapped. But after a while I would have black outs and not remember the abuse. So I lost time and would wake up not knowing what happened. Anyways I was also raped and had incest forced on me for 20 years also. The end results for me is I have depression, flash backs, I am bipolar, I have anxiety, I don't trust human and I have d.i.d(disassociative identity disorder) I am on meds and been seeing a therapist for 16 years. When I first went to a therapist I had memories all the way over my head I have been working through the trash and now it is only butt deep. I will always want to change and get better. I am getting there it just takes time. I will put you on my prayer list that you get help to cope with your stress and the flash backs ok! Try to get on meds if you can. Keep your head up and think positive, there is a silver lining in everything that happens. My silver lining is that I can relate with others and help them through situations, because of my personal experiences. In the long run you will probably need to see a therapist. I pray you have less flash backs. God Bless you with love in your heart and peace in your mind! Take care! I hope I helped in some way. Hugs! Von

Answer 7

Honey try to relax that is all that you can do because you cannot go back and change the past all that you can do is make the best of the future.

I like you starting having flashbacks to the time when I was three. I told my Psychiatrist that I kept having these flashbacks and he told me to go home and confront my mother about it. So I did.

I am now 46 and was about 42 when all of this happened to me.

I went to my mom and dads house and my mom was in the backyard cleaning the shed out. I asked her why she didn't tell me that I had been sexually abused when I was younger. My mother was stunned to say the least. She said that there was no way that I could remember that because I was only three so we never told you because we caught him before anything happened. I told her no you didn't mom and then I dropped the name of the accuser who was then about eighteen. My mother was even more stunned. I told her what really happened and she couldn't believe what came out of my mouth. If you are thinking that you are remembering it you probably are. If you would like to talk to someone about it you can e-mail me at [e-mail] and I would be glad to talk to you. God Bless and Good Luck

Answer 8

Just got out of a 4.5 year stretch of prison. Nothing really bad happened to me but I saw a lot...

Been through some level of hell ALL my life. Lots of crap went on Thing I did and things done.

I realize it is all a part of me and serves a higher purpose. Without all the trauma I would not be who I am today, Without seeing my mother and brother and I beat by a drunked stepdad all those years...I would not GNOW the pain it causes and the effect it has on someone and I may have become that. But I have experienced it and refuse to become that monster....

I cannot do to others what has been done wrong to me...and I can sympathize with others and try to help them through it...

I'll ramble on for hours befor I say whay I'm looking for.

Find peace through embrace. Perfect LOVE and FORGIVENESS will destroy the power this memory has over you. The strength IS in you me dearest friend. I GNOW it is. But its hard as hell to do I GNOW. But once you embrace it with LOVE and forgiveness...it simply cannot haunt you. It is part of you. Denial will only give it strength. You cannot drive around these things you must go THROUGH them.the is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is Glorious!

Peace be within you my friend. Contact me if you wish, We'll have a glass of tea and talk about it.

Another thing...That was long ago...they cant and wont do it again. They cant hurt you anymore dear.

so much more I want to say...but so little space to say it.

If it was up to ME...They would PAY...but I must keep such harsh judgement to myself and Pray God has changed their Wicked, twisted, dimented heart.

Answer 9

You really need to do whatever to speak with a therapist, counselor, or someone in that type of work. If you were truly sexually abused as a child, and feelings about that are starting to surface, you have no idea how badly you might be affected. Also, if the person that sexually abused you is still around, they may still be doing horrible things like that to other children, and they need to be stopped. DO SOMETHING!

Answer 10

Forget about a therapist. You need a support group where you can be with others who have been through what you're experiencing now and what you may have experienced so long ago. Call a social service agency and ask them how to find a support group in your area. It will do you so much good to be able to share with others who have been through something similar. Good luck. You're strong and smart and can work through this.