Hi,
For about 5 years I've suffered from what I thought were panic attacks. But I've had severe anxiety problems since I was 12. A while ago, I read about Complex PTSD and it sounded just like me. I'm starting to think that I have emotional flashbacks rather than panic attacks.
My family is dysfunctional and toxic, in my opinion. My parents are narcissistic and emotionally abusive. As a teenager I was also sexually abused by a teacher. After that is when I started suffering from moments of uncontrollable crying and intense emotions such as fear, sadness, and sometimes anger.
They last for 20 minutes to 2 hours, and I get them several times a week, sometimes several times a day.
The triggers can be: certain facial expressions, certain phrases or tones of voice, seeing or wearing clothes I was wearing while experiencing abuse or during extra difficult times in my life, seeing certain items, hearing certain sounds such as a parking car or a television or music that is turned off, lights that are turned off, etc.
I try to calm down when it happens but it is very difficult.
For about 5 years I've suffered from what I thought were panic attacks. But I've had severe anxiety problems since I was 12. A while ago, I read about Complex PTSD and it sounded just like me. I'm starting to think that I have emotional flashbacks rather than panic attacks.
My family is dysfunctional and toxic, in my opinion. My parents are narcissistic and emotionally abusive. As a teenager I was also sexually abused by a teacher. After that is when I started suffering from moments of uncontrollable crying and intense emotions such as fear, sadness, and sometimes anger.
They last for 20 minutes to 2 hours, and I get them several times a week, sometimes several times a day.
The triggers can be: certain facial expressions, certain phrases or tones of voice, seeing or wearing clothes I was wearing while experiencing abuse or during extra difficult times in my life, seeing certain items, hearing certain sounds such as a parking car or a television or music that is turned off, lights that are turned off, etc.
I try to calm down when it happens but it is very difficult.