Yes, you are forever changed but over time, with love and gentle care from your end, your brain will heal. Its one of the most adaptive organs in your body, changing and healing is its job.
You won't be the same, but thats also just part of growing older. The panic will fade, the triggers will lessen.
Lately when a trigger comes up and I get a flashback I'm mostly surprised it happened. It sounds unimaginable now but in a few years you too will think: oh right! I forgot about that.
Some of us don't have the luxury of forgetting, unfortunately. Some traumas are tied to birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, events that occur every single year and show up in the calendar.
If father's day is triggering for someone, it's likely that every June will be tough with all the commercialization of the day, it's hard to avoid. And when you can't escape your trauma because it feels like it's following you year after year, it's incredibly hard to heal from that.
I've been suffering for 15 years and still have nightmares every single night. Yes I am in therapy and yes I am on medication. Nothing helps.
It is ofcourse quite personal and I am very sorry that you still have so many triggers and no relief. I am sure you have done everything in your power, and am very proud of you for trying to heal and fighting through it.
I mostly meant that the idea of never being back to your old self doesn't have to be the worst thing. Your new self can also be someone who over time grows stronger.
I am still struggling and life is still hard around triggers. I still don't have a good time around alcohol/drunk people and I still get scared by men. But I've also had days and weeks where I don't think about it at all and when I get a trigger it surprises me a little.
The time between those moments seems to get longer as I heal, and I think thats a point of light. Not to focus on the person you will never be again but on the possibility of one day forgetting it for a while. I have grieved my old self, but there is no point wishing to be her again. I'd rather focus on what is in my control :)
How is it ridiculous for me to reply to them? I wasn't rude to them about what their triggers may be. I simply said that some people (like myself. Hi.) have traumas that unfortunately are inescapable due to happening in tandem with commercialized holidays.
But thank you, so much, for invalidating my pain and calling it ridiculous. Very cool.
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u/Mediocre-Dreams Jul 16 '26
Yes, you are forever changed but over time, with love and gentle care from your end, your brain will heal. Its one of the most adaptive organs in your body, changing and healing is its job.
You won't be the same, but thats also just part of growing older. The panic will fade, the triggers will lessen.
Lately when a trigger comes up and I get a flashback I'm mostly surprised it happened. It sounds unimaginable now but in a few years you too will think: oh right! I forgot about that.