Symptoms related to trauma?

Yes, yes.

People have all different types of physical ways to cope with trauma. This is very possible! Pacing is very common when anxious. It may be helpful to keep a trigger journal to record your triggers and how you responded to see the pattern!

That’s great advice. I did that for a week and realized that when I have an unpleasant memory come flooding back I hum. If it’s really intense I may even sing. The crazy thing is that I didn’t even notice I was doing it.

Yes. Yes. I pace around the house on phone calls, I’m constantly anxious so I try to do work/ chores off and on between sitting. It does help because at least at end of day I did something. Try sweeping, or clean a closet, dishes, mow lawn, etc. just force yourself to do something. Yes I know it’s related to trauma and stress for me anyway. I also listen to short stories on you tube. Turn radio on so your house feels alive.

That I do too. When I’m crazy dressed I cook things that are labor intensive or I organize and clean with great detail.

Yes both of these things. I have ADHD as well, which I learned can go hand in hand or even be confused with CPTSD symptoms.

its so hard to focus. And hard to feel satisfied or at peace with your current state at any time.

I’m sorry you’re feeling that way. You’re not alone—it happens to me too.

I agree that pacing can be an anxious tendency that could be a response to your trauma. When we feel stressed or triggered, our bodies gear up for a fight or to run. This increases heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, etc and causes the body to expect to mobilize in an intense way. Believe it or not your body is trying to help you survive in these moments—it just doesn’t realize that this reaction isn’t necessary at that time.

As for staring into space, this can be called dissociation which is a form of hypo-arousal. It can be a coping strategy of the brain to keep distressing memories or thoughts at bay to stop their full realization. Trauma can make dissociation more severe. This too is a way your body is trying to protect you.

In both situations, it might be helpful to try some grounding and mindfulness techniques to help your brain recognize that the threat it perceives is not actually present. It’s like an oversensitive smoke alarm that goes off when there is no fire. Grounding and mindfulness can involve smelling a strong scent like essential oil, chewing a strong tasting gum, listing things you can sense (engage all 5 senses), or even listing things that start with s… as many as you can. Box breathing (4 counts breath in, 4 counts hold, 4 counts breath out, 4 counts hold) can also help.

Your body and brain are trying to help you. They just need a little support to come back to the moment and realize that the threat is perceived and not really present. ❤️ These are strategies I’ve had to learn to help my body and brain too.

I hope that helps,

K

@RedRose227

I recognize this, I have ADD and space out all the time. It feels awful, my head always goes places. Only when I am with friends or company I can be more focused but a lot of the time when I'm alone I get caught up in this mental vortex. I think it's related to bad childhood experiences. So yes I can totally relate!