When I saw this part I think I got the same reactions as others... Wrong move. I mean this is very understandable of a reaction until you do learn this more with experience, find what clicks for you. Your mind is going from 0 to 90 in no time and you feel you need to get some stimulus to block it. Makes sense you need more than currently happening when really you need less. You need something slow paced and solo you can focus on. Loud does not help me at all.

For me one day Evie described it best. We were talking about lights. Over stimulated, sensory overload. That is what I like about guided imagery. I can put on head phones and block it all out if I have another adult to "play catch" when the kids act like kids. I can focus on a calm voice with soothing music. It brings me down a few notches and I do use skills learned from CBT to bring my self down too. Nothing loud.

When it is not over kill or about to go over the edge but am not well all TVs off, no music, I ask people to talk amongst them self quietly and I play puzzle games. Hubs assumes I am close to overload and gives me space when he sees a puzzle game now. It is repetitive but I can focus. It helps. Keeps mind busy but not so much I am over stimulated like the things you are trying can do. I have done this too and hope you will learn from my mistakes. Also, removing all stimuli can back fire.

The warm blanket (winter only) sounds awesome and will plan to try it next time! Think it will go well with a video game. There is much you can do to keep the mind active and slowly bring it down at the same time like I do. I know it can be impossible to "just relax".

Also, pop corn is low cal so not and evil choice to keep yourself busy. I am an eater :)

Unfortunately I don't have much advice on this as I have not yet mastered it myself...If things are not too bad...I try to put on music I like or play game son the computer...btu if it's gettign bad I start shuttign down...if at night, I grab my tennis racket so I have something there in case someone breaks in I can whack them on the head (sounds stupid I know but somehow reassuring) but yeah...I know it can get nasty...even the sound of the clock makes you edgy...Anyway, hang in there. What others have suggested seems pretty good. I especially like Veiled's popcorn idea...I ought to try that one out myself ;P

See if you can't find some very soft melodic music, or sounds of the ocean, stuff like that, try to meditate during listening, when invasive thoughts come in replace them with happy thoughts, puppies playing, kittens swatting the puppies tails, bubble machines, rainbows on a nice clear day,,,,,,,,,any images you deem safe and lovely,,,,,,,,,,,
It won't happen overnight,,,,,,,,,but you will be training your mind to go to a safer place, instead of being in the middle of despair with no way out.
All takes babysteps.
We were not taught how to deal with these things, so we have to self teach ourselves.
This site is so so so important to me, I know I'm being heard, and understood, things the non ptsders can't give me ever.
Please let me know if this sounds like you could try it,,,,,,,,,,if not,,,,,,,,,well other ways are available, nothing is impossible,,,,,,,,,,,,,seahorse males give birth, that proves it;;;;;;;;;;lol

Thank you so much for all your help guys, I really appreciate it.

I ended up speaking to a friend on the phone but that did not work. All I did was be a bitch because I was so edgy I couldn't take listening to conversation... my concentration wasn't on the conversatoin. So I just got agitated. Then I got under the duvet and tried to block out all sound... tried to think of words to songs. Eventually I must have fallen asleep. Though I slept badly and woke up really late for uni.

I am going to take all the tips and advice from here and try them. I want to invest in a heating blanket now. It's so cold here, snowing, and my room never heats up so I need one anyway!

Veiled, your explanation was really helpful. And I have realised that overstimulation is definitely not recommended by you guys... and I think I learned that the hard way last night. I won't be sticking loud music on again.

RD... I absolutely know what you mean when you said even a ticking clock could make you edgy!!

I so understand now how hard it must be for anyone living in unpredictably noisy environments (like building or airplanes)!

I will try meditation more too, though I have tried relaxation techniques before and even my therapist gave up, when he realised that I just DON'T relax ever! But maybe it needs more trying... or at least can help a little at times like that...

Thanks everyone. I'm alive today. And last night all I could think and feel was danger and hypervigilance and then extreme agitation. Like you said Don... it passed. Definitely need to learn to manage this better for next time.

I'm glad it passed. It's so hard to remember that when you're in it, and it really is hard to remember how to deal with it when it starts.

Hey Lisa

Sorry I got here late. I tried the loud (mellow) music thing and it blocked everything else out...but then I was scared of what I couldn't hear. I went to the headset. It seemed to work because it toned most things out but yet I could hear some outside sounds.
Aroma therapy with scented candles in a dark quiet room was more effective for me than the headset.

Hope this helps.
Kel

Thanks Captrn1.... appreciate the advice, thank you. I will try my rose incense sticks, candles, and light music on headphones when the anxiety starts to rise before it gets full blown like before... that could help keep it at bay I guess?

Thanks

on thing I found to help is ty-chie and soft music LIke yanna / bauch/ chavski/ect.
my counsler showed me a eye exice that I found amazing That your finger or hand slowly back and forth in front of your face follow it with yours eyes only repeat it 25-30 times it's almost hynotic but you calm down. maybe it will work for someone else
sally

on thing I found to help is ty-chie and soft music LIke yanna / bauch/ chavski/ect.
my counsler showed me a eye exice that I found amazing That your finger or hand slowly back and forth in front of your face follow it with yours eyes only repeat it 25-30 times it's almost hynotic but you calm down. maybe it will work for someone else
sally