Phase two of attenion whoring: The Aftermath

[Squiggy]

This is what I'm dealing with and since there's at least one psychologist on this board I'm going to put this out there.

Since my brush with...whatever...I can't sleep. I've maybe gotten 4 hours of sleep since Monday. Every time I close my eyes I hear that roar and I'm hypersensitive to the sound of anything that sounds like it such as my AC or refrigerator and this morning I was fumbling with some equipment here at work and I flashed back to fumbling with my oxygen mask.

Now that the adrenaline and shock have worn off I'm sort of suck with the realization of what actually happened. Should I talk to someone or what?

 

[SPOCKED]

Yes, absolutely. I'm just wondering if there's an element of post traumatic stress going on here. Seek professional help, and take what we suggest on the board only with a grain of salt, Squiggy.

 

[Jadzia]

If I felt this way...

I'd consider going somewhere pretty and tranquil, and having a nice peaceful and relaxing day, to quietly reflect on things and re-center myself. So like a picnic or something. No excitement or physical exercise though. I imagine too much activity would just postpone my whole recovery by being a distraction.

That's what I would do, but everyone is different. You do what you feel is right for you.

 

[Squiggy]

 

[kathryn i am]

take what we suggest on the board only with a grain of salt, Squiggy.

Man up.

Indeed!


And seriously, talk to someone who has some experience dealing with people who have been through traumatic experiences... We joke around a lot here, but I can't imagine the fear that must come with such an event!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

This is what I'm dealing with and since there's at least one psychologist on this board I'm going to put this out there.

Since my brush with...whatever...I can't sleep. I've maybe gotten 4 hours of sleep since Monday. Every time I close my eyes I hear that roar and I'm hypersensitive to the sound of anything that sounds like it such as my AC or refrigerator and this morning I was fumbling with some equipment here at work and I flashed back to fumbling with my oxygen mask.

Now that the adrenaline and shock have worn off I'm sort of suck with the realization of what actually happened. Should I talk to someone or what?

Talk to me, Squiggy. I'll always lend you a kind ear.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

As I mentioned earlier, you're now pre-disastered. You're safe.

Sleep well, sir!

 

[Maestro]

Yes, you will benefit from professional help, and probably a mild regimen of anti-depressants or and/or tranquilizers. There's nothing wrong with getting some counseling or taking these drugs to help get yourself back on track.

Better that you get legal, licensed, and legitimate help now lest you turn to less pleasant ways to deal with it. Like crawling into a bottle of Scotch every night.

 

[Count Zero]

What Jadzia suggested is a good idea. It's normal for such an event to have some psychological backlash. It seems to me that you didn't really have time to let it sink in due to the excitement of the media attention and now being back to work. I think you need some me-time. However, if it doesn't get better soon, you should definetely seek professional help before this gets any worse.

 

[Trekker4747]

Seek professional help....

We've been telling him this in TNZ for a while now.

Squiggy, it's only been a few days so you're probably still tense about it and still getting "over" it. You may need to give it a week or two before being worried or seeking serious help. Try some OTC sleep aids, back off on your caffeine intake to see if that helps you sleep, find some things that might help calm your nerves and get your mind off things. Hang out with friends, see a movie, go out for a beer. Give it time. It may not be time for professional help.

You had a slight, flirting, brush with a form of maybe becoming seriously injrued or dying. Keep in mind that the 737 series of planes are still the safest in the world, that the plane was DESIGNED to "fail safe" (that's to say that the hole couldn't of gotten much bigger than that as a design in the plane's airframe) and that all of the systems worked the way they're supposed to. The plane's airframe, the O2 system, the pilots' training, the training of ATC and other ground-based rescue operations. (Hey?! Did you get to do down the emergency slide or did they dock at the jetway?)

Squiggs, man, your a funny, great, guy and you're too big to let something this small get you down. Brush yourself off, get back on your horse, and prepare for your trip to Vegas next month. Statisticly, you're far more likely to get in a car-accident on your way to work tomorrow, or falling out of bed tonight than this happening again.

Talk with your social group (either here or IRL) and give yourself time. If it still bugs you in few weeks, then you can seek professional help.

 

[Lindley]

When this happened, I had difficulty sleeping that night. Kept "flashing back to" that moment, as you say.

What helped me get over it was reading about spin recoveries, watching YouTube videos about spin recoveries, and not least, realizing that I did recover because I was in control.

The fact that you weren't in control probably makes this worse for you. But maybe reading up on similar incidents and getting a handle on what could have happened will help.

 

[RyanKCR]

It very well could be PTSD. I have it a bit since my 10 ICD shocks in 2 hours in March. I still tense up when my heart has a bad beat or a quick run of skipped beats or fast beats. Having gotten shocked again, but only once two weeks ago has helped a bit. It will take time and find someone to talk it out with. That will help alot. That can be a close friend or a professional.

 

[Aurian]

Squiggy, do yourself the favor of finding someone professional to talk to. I think at the bbs here, you might be "interrupted" by too many people assuming you are joking around again for the attention. But ofcourse, some will always care

 

[Plecostomus]

I've had two "traumatic" incidents in my life... one I watched a man who wouldn't listen get burned over 60% of his body by an exploding machine, and the second I slash We couldn't shut down a production line fast enough to save someone's life.

The first time I went to a doctor, and got referred to an expert, the second time I kind of went stark raving bonkers for awhile. Eventually got help for it.


No shame in at least talking to a head-doctor for a couple of sessions.

 

[Kirby]

I agree with the others when they say talk to someone. There is a certain stigma to going to see a 'shrink' if you haven't done it before, but if you find the right one they will help you address it in a way that will be beneficial to you, and save you quite a bit of time in getting over it.
PTSD sucks and it can ruin your life if you let it. It's best to address it now before it gets worse.

 

[Jan]

FWIW, it sounds like a pretty normal reaction and the 'cure' may well be what you're doing. The one time I had a really serious threat to my safety it seemed like I couldn't stop talking about it for days afterward. Thankfully my family was wise enough to just let me get it out of my system as I needed to and they listened rather than talked. Talking about it seemed to allow me to come to terms with it and let it become less scary over time. For me it probably took a week to ten days.

If you've got family or friends who can be your sounding boards that may be all you need. If you feel you need professional help you may want to check with the airline and see if they offer something.

Good luck.

Jan

 

[Scout101]

I say you just take the fear, kick it in the nuts, and go skydiving! After that, your plane issues should pretty much go away

 

[Garak]

Masturbate furiously until you feel normal again.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Squiggy, do yourself the favor of finding someone professional to talk to. I think at the bbs here, you might be "interrupted" by too many people assuming you are joking around again for the attention. But ofcourse, some will always care

Ditto here We care about you Squiggs...get better!

 

[Plecostomus]

Masturbate furiously until you feel normal again.

Normal?! It'll either break off or he'll go blind/dehydrate before he becomes "normal."