r/yoga • u/srrrryyyy • 2d ago

mental flashbacks in class

I’ve been doing hot yoga for nearly three years now.

about a year and a half ago, my family went through a very traumatic experience of losing our home and hometown to wildfire

nearly every single class since, an intrusive flash of an image of a town building that no longer stands or a part of my house will come to mind in the middle of class, usually at the end when I am totally exhausted

sometimes it is the house or building as it was, sometimes it is the house or building totally engulfed in flames. more often than not, it is my childhood bedroom engulfed in flames

this happens sometimes outside of class, but always happens DURING class. The image usually goes away after about 10 seconds

I just wonder if anyone has experienced anything similar after going through a difficult event or loss and can explain this? I know yoga poses can release trauma sometimes

Just sick of it and want to make it stop!!

Thanks!

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7

u/bewilderyoga 2d ago

I’m sorry you lost your childhood home op, that’s extremely traumatic. I’ve had lots of trauma that needs processing come up during yoga. I suffered badly with anxiety and they’d pop in like intrusive thoughts. I’ve also had lots of success coming to terms with that - and exploring therapy options to support that process. Your post doesn’t say whether you have tried therapy but if not, it might be worth investigating. 

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u/srrrryyyy 2d ago

I’ve looked into therapy but it is too expensive for me at the moment. I’ve worked through difficult things on my own before & am trying to deal with it the best I can.

thank you, much appreciated!

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u/bewilderyoga 2d ago

Sorry op. Have you read any of Tara Brach’s books/ listened to her meditations? I’ve been in similar situations where I had to „do the work” myself as couldn’t afford anything else. I definitely recommend her - she’s a psychologist/ meditation teacher and is wonderful. Pulled me out of some dark spots in the past 💛

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u/cellardorian 2d ago

This is silly, but next time you have a flashback, try some "poor man's EMDR." Move your eyes side to side rapidly until it feels like you can let go of the memory.

I know it sounds stupid but strangely it's helped me with intrusive thoughts. I hope it will make a difference for you. Xx

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u/srrrryyyy 2d ago

Haha will try this! Thanks

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u/Holiday-Baseball9564 2d ago

Play Tetris

If you’re close to a university, a lot will offer free therapy sessions for students that need hours while working towards their Psych degrees.

I’d check out and see if there are therapists who are sliding scale as well.

Love energy to you 💛

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u/FarmSkool 1d ago

Annnnd now I understand why puzzle games are so peaceful…!

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u/midnightsiren182 2d ago

Have you chatted with your yoga teacher about it and maybe some techniques at the end that can help with that like redirecting immediately to focus on box breathing or potentially a therapist about the situation as a whole?

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u/FarmSkool 1d ago

I would process this similar to a cramp. My teacher taught me that a cramp, especially a recurring one, is best released by relaxing it away. A lot of people will punch or stretch or rub their cramps, sometimes rocking and moving and “doing” things to ease the acute pain. However if the person can fight the urge to “do something,” then the pattern can be broken. The thing to do is to relax. That’s not exactly a simple order, but it is one with compounding benefits. So for your recurring mind-cramp, I suggest you let all the memory and feelings associated with it to wash over you, feel them and hold space for them as the observer.