Need info on 'regression to childhood', dissociation, flashbacks.?

Question:

I have a friend who has been having what appears to be flashbacks to past memories. I'm not sure if flashbacks is the correct wording as she seems to regress to a younger version of herself and doesn't seem to know where she is or anything about her present self. She is 40 yrs old and has had extensive abuse in her childhood and has recently begun dealing with these issues. She has had many intense dreams and recurring flashbacks during the day. And now seems to slip into this younger self on a couple of occasions - thinking she needs to get back home because she's late and will get into trouble, etc (not realizing she no longer lives at home and in fact no longer lives in her home state). I can't seem to find any info online and would appreciate any help anyone provide or direction for me to look. Thanks.

Answers:
Sorry to hear that your friend is struggling. You may want to do some reading at the following website:

http://www.rossinst.com/

Also, you might want to help her learn a few grounding techniques (i.e., http://www.m-a-h.net/support/article-gro... ; http://www.mosaicminds.org/safe-ground-n... In addition, it would probably be a good idea for you to have the phone number of her therapist, so that you can make a phone call if things get out of hand.

Best of luck to your friend,
~M~

be sure she isn't speaking of her present home - if she is really referring to her child hood home she may still feel responsibility for the abuse she suffered and feel if she were there something would be resolved.

what she is going thru is not that unusual - it is just being recognized for what it is - in the past she would be institutionalized for a nervous breakdown w/o ever addressing the real problem.

abuse is finally coming out of the closet and the after effects are finally being recognized.

perhaps signing herself in - event tho she is not a threat wold give her a break - just try to watch over her that she doesn't receive shock treatment or get drug-ed out of her gourd.

she needs an environment of gentle understanding - perhaps from many trained professionals.

a certain school of thought calls that post traumatic stress disorder. But is sounds more like dissociative disorder. PTSD is "flashbacks", there is a questionable school of therapy/therapists that supposedly deal with these issues. I tend to think, people need to be oriented into daily reality. Encouraging therapy in this I feel tends to exascerbates the dissociative symptoms of people who then become increasing dependent on therapy for assistance.

Stress plays a factor, reducing stress can often time reduce the symptoms. Stress can relieved through healthy channels, and not necessarily connected with therapy.

Need info on 'regression to childhood', dissociation, flashbacks.?

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