General To Help Avoid The Trigger Or To Help By Letting The Trigger Happen

[BigBear]

I don't want to say that understand anything. I do however think that I have a sense of what a trigger is and what it does (I've done a little research). I also have a sense of co-dependency and what it can do. At least I hope I do in both cases.

So, some therapies seem to introduce the the trigger. However, Some people say they must avoid triggers. And of course there are degrees in between. I also feel that no two people are the same. They have different capabilities and limitations. Therefore, I can't expect anyone to tell me how to respond in my personal (and Angel's) situation.

I guess I'm hoping for some discussion on when supporters have felt (after the fact) the they had a positive impact by preventing the trigger and when they had a positive impact by allowing the trigger (I can't possibly accept that I should intentionally cause a trigger. Whether right or wrong, I just don't think I can do it).

Suffers, please feel free to poke at the question also, as you see fit...

Thanks in advance folks!
Bear

 

[amethist]

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/exposure-therapy-for-ptsd.13908/[/DLMURL]

Maybe if you read the above linked article Bear, you will understand more about exposure therapy how it can help reduce the impact in the future.

Preventing them form being exposed to triggers will not help in the long term. Facing the fear and working through it is how it should be done. Slowly and with baby steps, maybe 3 steps forward and 2 back, but still that 1 step forward.

But it should not be you who starts this off, but a therapist, who is trained in how to handled all effects of this.

Hope this helps a bit. Maybe read more of the articles in the same section.

Amethist

 

[Brontie]

Everyone is different. Different therapies will work for different people. Speaking for myself, recognising triggers and learning to avoid them was very helpful. Facing the fear and working through it all can be too painful for some people. You should decide for yourself what type of therapy you want to have.

 

[gsryoga]

My variety of PTSD has left my nervous system a mess. I have tried to face triggers several times, only to be re-traumatized, which cripples me for as long as a month. Exposure therapy is not for me, nor is any one modality for everyone -- period!

 

[amethist]

Hi gsryoga

If triggers can be faced in a controlled and supported way, then the fears can in time be over come. It may take a long time, but it is possible.

If this were not possible, then anyone who had suffered any kind of trauma, no matter how small, would live the rest of their lives in complete fear.

Many have said in the past that they cannot do this, they cannot face their fear and move past it. But have then gone on to prove to themselves and others that they could and did.

Everyone is different, have different fears and triggers. But the process of working through them and conquering them can be similar for many.

Finding a therapist you can trust and who understands how to work you through your issues, can be one of the hardest things to start with. Once you have found one, then it is up to you to work with them, not against them.

Amethist

 

[gsryoga]

Hi Amethist!

I have, indeed, attempted to face trauma in therapists offices I have trusted who used different modalities. Unfortunately, the result is the same. Each of us are different, and unfortunately, one size does not fit all.

Yet, I do want to acknowledge your desire to help. BTW: I love your name. I first got into crystals in the '80s. An amethyst is purple and does have healing energies, although it works a lot better for lower grade emotional disorders.

 

[amethist]

There are many crystals that could be used for various PTSD issues. Amethyst is actually the first to try for some of them, but I would not suggest a specific crystal to use on here, as what works for one won't always work for another. Plus there are so many combinations you could use, it would get confusing too quickly. This is not really the place either.

As with professional therapy for PTSD, what works for my husband, may not work for you. It is only by trial and error that you can find something that fits you. But none of this should be used instead of professional therapy, only as an addition.

 

[The Albatross]

I have pretty much accepted that there will be triggers beyond what I can prepare for and control. I put more focus on coping mechanisms and minimizing the damage I do during these periods. I have learned to send and "S.O.S" to my husband and let him know when I'm beginning to stress. We work together, some of the time, to let him step foward so I can step back and deal with the anxiety. It is not perfect, it is not a fix, but it is sometimes a way to create a "gap" so that I can self examine and retreat, walk through it, or just try to figure out the "red flag".

 

[The Albatross]

I guess I'm hoping for some discussion on when supporters have felt (after the fact) the they had a positive impact by preventing the trigger and when they had a positive impact by allowing the trigger

I gotta think about this, be back later.

 

[Tinyflame]

I guess I'm hoping for some discussion on when supporters have felt (after the fact) the they had a positive impact by preventing the trigger and when they had a positive impact by allowing the trigger (I can't possibly accept that I should intentionally cause a trigger. Whether right or wrong, I just don't think I can do it). BigBear

I would say allowing the trigger is only positive when things work out well.
'Push' yourself or others if you think that's going to be helpful but I wouldn't intentionally cause one, that's like precipitating a crisis.

 

[The Albatross]

I disconnected a trigger, "Grace". I forced forward new associations with the name and named two pleasurable things, a boat (His Grace) and my cat (Grace).

I live on a thin line, and push myself to the point of chronically uncomfortable. Intentionally putting myself in situations where I can trigger but have a "safe" place to retreat or give myself permission to leave entirely if it gets too bad. I try to repeat certain things til they cause only moderate anxiety. My husband says it is difficult to watch and that I am pushing myself too hard. I try to give myself a pay off for each challenge, some self care or a reward, like a facial, a massage, a trinket or some music. And then I give myself some down time so that I can recooperate. It's tough. I have to build myself up, focus on the goal, walk through it without the defenses up, keeping my hands down... a big trust exercise that nobody knows about except me and sometimes my spouse. I had a sponsor who would do this with me too. I would identify something that made me freak and she'd rig up something to put my face in it. For instance, when I was isolating, she signed me up for a 40 hour victims advocate class. I was mega spooked and jumpy... but she sat next to me, and got me through it. I have, though had some stuff where challenges didn't work.

There are things that trigger me and I got no understanding of why though. Smells, and sounds. I just don't have enough information to even try. But more often now, I tend to disassociate or flee rather than fight.

There are though incidents that I wouldn't dare do this for... the ones that trigger rage for example.

 

[gsryoga]

I don't know about you folks, but l have been desperate to heal and have been willing to try anything that might facilitate recovery. Unfortunately, many of the things I have tried -- all in the realm of healing modalities -- have backfired, leaving me tortured with trauma and anxiety. I need to trust my intuition, as my brain -- although it means well -- has betrayed me all too often!