I have such a hard time staying present when painful thoughts and memories are barging into my brain all day. I have tried meditation again and again, it's just not for me.
What are some easy, practical ideas for how to stay present throughout the day?
I think one of the most practical methods to stay present was about using small stones for grounding. Here's the post by Palomineo:
I actually do best on the days I jog or walk hard. Exercise like that helps me stay present.
I have to keep my brain busy to distract myself from thinking. I have to read or do an audio book while I am doing something. My thoughts come back even if I cook dinner. Playing games on my tablet keep me busy.
When my PTSD gets me stressed-out, my foster cats usually know, and will come over demanding attention and cuddles, and that usually works for me. Or if my boyfriend is over & I have a flashback, he'll usually cuddle me and (this might sound weird) slowly tickle my back - I can be in full-blown panic mode, and if he does that, not only do I relax, I'm likely to fall asleep! Also, I find that a nice hot cup of tea helps, too - I have quite the tea hoard from my favourite tea store, DAVIDsTEA. Teas like Big Chill, Mother's Little Helper (both have valerian in them), and a tea called Sweet Dreams mixed with a bit of peppermint are nice calming teas.
Keep us posted on how it works for you. 
Daily users of benzos willing to share?
New here, hoping to find understanding people
how the hell do you banish ptsd
PTSD relapse, stuck situation
