How to Control Military Flashbacks

Flashbacks are a vivid and often violent recollection and reliving of traumatic events that reoccur in the mind of the victim. They are often triggered by certain stimuli such as a loud noise or a certain smell but they can also happen randomly, leaving the victim often feeling helpless due to the panic and anxiety the flashbacks cause. Flashbacks are a common problem for soldiers who have been through war experiences. Controlling these flashbacks requires diligence, patience and proper treatment.

Instructions

• 1

  Speak to a therapist. The sooner the flashbacks are addressed and treated, the better the chances you'll be able to get rid of them entirely. Group therapy is often useful for soldiers in building camaraderie with others and understanding that they are not alone in their experiences. Family therapy can also assist your family members who are affected by the flashbacks you are experiencing.

• 2

  Write a journal where you freely express your feelings, thoughts and fears. Flashbacks are often a manifestation of emotions and events that are being suppressed. Letting out these thoughts and feelings in some form of expression can help minimize flashback occurrences.

• 3

  Talk to a doctor or a psychiatrist to discuss the possibility of using medication. While medicine is not a cure-all for flashbacks, anti-anxiety medication can sometimes be used in conjunction with other treatments to minimize flashback symptoms.

• 4

  Call the Veteran's Health Services Benefits Center at 877-222-8387 to find out about veteran's centers and other resources available to you that can assist in both flashback and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, control.

• 5

  Undergo relaxing treatments or visit relaxing facilities such as steam rooms, sweat lodges and saunas. Massages and acupuncture are also options to try if you're comfortable with the physical-contact nature of them. These treatments can help alleviate anxiety and minimize flashbacks.