Help! Seeking short term psych first aid to prevent further PTSD

[jesse_the_k]

Yesterday, as I was rolling along the sidewalk, a jerk in an SUV drove right into me. Tipped my chair over sideways and sent me sprawling. Body wise I'm bruised and OK. Not so lucky re: mind.

I have existing PTSD related to motor vehicles--this is my third sidewalk/driveway crash.

I do have a call into my EMDR therapist, am using anti-anxiety meds, and am meditating a lot. Crash memories are intruding often.

Welcome suggestions on other psych first aid measures!

Comments

[green_knight]

No advice, but sending you best vibes. Bastard.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

[melannen]

You may already have this but there's some evidence when it comes to a specific trauma event, dehydration is a major correlation to whether PTSD develops.

There's some general vaguer evidence that physical comfort in general - right after the trauma - helps.

So I got no psych advice, but drink lots of water. And if you can, eat well, stay warm/cool, and sleep as much as you can, and that might actually make a difference physical brain-wise.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks, and happy to here that my nervous drinking habit might be useful!

[sixbeforelunch]

I saw this on my network page and I hope you don't mind me dropping in.

There is some preliminary evidence for Tetris and other video games as a help for processing trauma. Emphasis on the preliminary, but here's the source if it sounds like something you would want to try: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tetris-shown-to-lessen-ptsd-and-flashbacks/

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Ah, good, documentation!

[sovay]

I have no suggestions but *hugs*

[jesse_the_k]

Appreciated.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

There is some evidence that games like tetris may help prevent mental grooves being laid down. Don't know if you have one you like. But yeah, stay hydrated, self care in general and be gentle with yourself (no pushing through a concussion etc.)

Thanks

[jesse_the_k]

Cool! Will seek out a game and keep drinking.

[emceeaich]

Jesus Christ.

I'm sorry. Be gentle and rest. Let me set that driver on fire with my mind for you.

[cynthia1960]

And then we can make s’mores over the bonfire.

[cynthia1960]

OMG, be extra gentle with yourself.

[jesse_the_k]

Will do. Mmmmm, smores

[isis]

Ugh. I grrr on your behalf. Gentle hugs.

[jesse_the_k]

Appreciated

[celli]

*HUGS* If you want to talk, I can DM my number, just let me know.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks for the offer — hugs appreciated

[worlds_of_smoke]

Jesus Christ. what the fuck is wrong with people??

No advice, but you have my sympathy and rage.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks, it helps to know I’m raging in good company

[pauraque]

Wow, I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm relieved you weren't badly hurt physically, and I hope you're able to get what you need to avoid any further mental hurt. I'm afraid I don't have many concrete suggestions to offer. Sometimes when something happens that is similar to a trauma, I try to focus on making my self-talk as kind and empathetic as possible, because negative self-talk (judging myself for having a big reaction) is usually where I start spiraling. "I am not bad for having this reaction. This is understandable given my past. I deserve care and rest after going through this." Sometimes actually writing out these messages is helpful to me.

[jesse_the_k]

Good idea! I’ve been doing self-compassion meditations and getting internal static like “wasn’t that big a deal!” Writing it out will let me hush those voices.

[forestofglory]

No advice, but how scary! I'm glad that you are physically ok. Sending you good thoughts.

[jesse_the_k]

♥️♥️♥️♥️

[sasha_feather]

How awful! I can come sit with you if you like, any time. In the past when I've been freaked out, it's helped to hold my hands under running water, or sit in the shower. I've also enjoyed looking at calming photos online, via Flickr or Tumblr.

<333

[sasha_feather]

Sometimes to distract myself I play a mental game, such as, think of a fruit for every letter of the alphabet.

[magnetic_pole]

Yikes! Thinking of you and sending good healing vibes, mental and physical. M.

Thanks

[jesse_the_k]

...the vibes have definitely been helping.

[toft]

What a fucker. That sounds so frightening, I'm really sorry. Lots of love. No real experience with PTSD but - immersion in a beloved fic, if you can focus enough to read? Tetris or some other mind-numbing game, as someone suggested below, also sounds good. Sending you calming thoughts.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks, the calming thoughts arrived! They helped!

[thingswithwings]

I'm so sorry to hear this and angry on your behalf!

For me, when intrusive memories are bad, I have to make my brain skip tracks by watching or listening to something engaging (tv/podfic), just to stop the cycle. Then later I can come back to dealing with it. I don't know if that's healthy, though!

Appreciate the sympathy

[jesse_the_k]

Any coping technique that works sounds like a coping technique to me.

[sonia]

Yikes! Sorry to hear that.

Quick psych first aid between clients...
* Ask yourself when you first realized that you were ok, after the impact. Spend some time with that moment. Helps orient you to the present.
* When you have intrusive memories, try slowing them down, and giving your body and brain more time to react & avoid the problem. Doesn't change what happened, but changes how you carry it.
* Play same/different - how is this the same as other incidents, how is it different. How is the present moment same/different from while it was happening.

Hope you feel better soon!

[jesse_the_k]

THANK YOU for these exceptionally specific useful ideas.

[esteefee]

*hugs you gently* I'm so sorry, buddy.

Music does it for me...something connects my ears to my neocortex and helps dim the bad stuff. This song never fails to soothe me during an ugly spell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLCOfLIU9fc
Gary Go, "Wonderful." Something about being reminded that we are all chemical reactions...this isn't permanent.

Hang in there, sweets.

[jesse_the_k]

Awww, that's a lovely song -- thank you!

(Which reminds me I have a "crisis playlist" on my phone which I can listen to.)

[seascribble]

I am glad you got good rapid response here. I am sorry that happened and hope he is suitably punished either by law or karma.

Karma

[jesse_the_k]

...would be great, and fortunately is out of my hands. (That is, I'm not in control of making it happen.)

[runpunkrun]

That is awful! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Again.

I find listening to certain sounds very soothing and distracting. MyNoise.net is my favorite site for this because it's super customizable, like if you don't like the bird noise, you can just turn off the bird noise.

I'm currently very into this soundscape I made myself which has some plinky pianos, creek, birds, and wind-through-the-leaves.

I also find Chapel Voices very soothing and otherworldly.

The crashing waves of the ocean is a classic.

And just some calming low drones are good too.

<3 <3 <3

What a treasure!

[jesse_the_k]

...I just added your plinky pianos as "calm punk" to my bookmarks.

That site is AWESOME! Just fiddling around with it is soothing--like an audio fidget spinner.

Thank you so much.

[resonant]

Oh my God, j-the-k, that is so awful. I don't have any suggestions for you, but my aura is offering a very gentle high-five to your aura, unless your aura would prefer an even gentler wave.

[jesse_the_k]

My aura is quivering with delight :,)

[boxofdelights]

I'm so glad you're mostly okay.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks!

[mific]

That fucker. Sending you all the virtual hugs.

Thanks for the sentiment

[jesse_the_k]

That is an entirely cuddly icon

[bibliofile]

Holy shit.

I'm still glad you're Still Not Ded.

[jesse_the_k]

ME TOOOOO!

[staranise]

I'd suggest making sure you keep your electrolytes replenished and try to keep adequately nourished. The correlations are slight, but it's suggested that toxic stress depletes bodily electrolytes like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, and the body can more easily bounce back if it gets a fresh supply.

<3 Take care!

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks -- fortunately stress makes me thirsty and hungry!