A Question From My Husband

[Fadeaway]

He just posed this question to me. "Since there are triggers for PTSD causing symptoms, can the opposite exist as well? In other words can there be triggers to cause flashbacks or symptoms of extreme and unusual positive experiences such as having all of a persons dreams come true all at once that effected them so profoundly that in the future something could cause them to have feelings of elation and positive flashbacks?"

I told him I didn't know, and I would ask.

Really late edit in case anyone notices :whistling:

 

[anthony]

A trigger isn't exclusive to negativity, no. So yes, a trigger could activate something positive. As long as the word trigger is used correctly, being that one of your senses is activated to a stimulation that then evokes an emotional or physical response.

A trigger is not a memory, and has nothing to do with memory or recollection, thought or other.

 

[Suzetig]

My therapist has me working on using grounding techniques when I'm feeling fine so that when I'm triggered into a flashback or dissociation just doing whatever grounding thing "triggers" me back again. For example, I use a really nice lavender hand cream at work, just using it makes me feel calm and safe so if I'm struggling I know that reaching for that hand cream will instantly calm me. Maybe not enough to totally fend off the flashback but certainly enough that I can try other things in my "keep grounded" toolkit.

To get you need to be meticulous about self care, whether you feel you need care or not, and build positive associations with particular activities as you go. It does work for me.

 

[Fadeaway]

Thanks Anthony. That actually helps me to better understand the term trigger as well.

 

[RussH]

@Fadeaway this is my understanding, and if I am wrong @anthony can correct me. PTSD is caused by unresolved trauma that has caused a phychological injury. So when something happens that triggers PTSD that unresolved issue surfaces as if it is happening again, and it is the brain trying to reconcile this event.

So for a positive experience to be triggered, that experience would have to be an unresolved issue in the brain.

If someone would like to unexpectedly give me a million dollars, so we can try out the theory; I would be willing to experiment:)

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, this is what I call overlays. I use the opposite of fear (love and a feeling of safety) to have my responses neutralized. It works very well. Your husband is asking a brilliant question.

 

[Recovery4Me]

@shimmerz I totally loved your entire response.

"Overlays" what a beautiful artistic concept (for me) to ease an unsettling feeling. Relieves my black and white thinking of I must transition immediately or in an allotted time.

~~~
And thanks for the question in this thread @Fadeaway !

 

[Lucycat]

So for a positive experience to be triggered, that experience would have to be an unresolved issue in the brain.

I think there is a difference in triggering PTSD and general triggers. The positive experience would not be a part of the PTSD. The positive trigger will cause an emotional reaction - a pleasant one- but not a flashback - as you say there is no prior unresolved issue.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

My husband has asked the same exact question. I said it's not the same. I can be triggered to remember something positive. And it's not usually as noticeable as something that triggers something negative. Perhaps it's not as noticeable because it doesn't need the same kind of attention that a negative trigger needs. A positive trigger isn't causing problems. I don't know if that makes sense.

 

[shimmerz]

Okay, I have to interject here. @JEKBreatheandBelieve I mean no offense by this at all. It isn't about remembering something positive. It is about feeling it. Getting all of the senses involved, or if that is not part of the trigger, finding the sense and annihilating it with a positive feeling. The key word is feeling. Here is my experience.

I used to almost drive off the road when I saw a Back Rack (installed on the back of trucks to secure goods carried in the truck). I won't get deeply into why. It was seriously impairing my ability to drive and I needed to drive desperately to get help from T's etc. I was desperate. I remember the moment. I was sitting behind a truck at a red light (even know the intersection). It had a back rack and I was seriously melting down in my car. My brain went ballistic looking for a way to stop myself from reacting. It suddenly came to me that I needed to figure out a way to change how that backrack made me feel. I needed to feel powerful when I saw it. Had to.

How the hell did love or safety fall into that object that kept triggering the hell out of me? How do I get a powerful feeling out of it? It suddenly occurred to me that I needed to see that backrack driving down the driveway - leaving - because I wouldn't back down. He left first. Always. He would come, try to completely terrorize me and I would stand my ground and he would leave. Powerful. Yes, I had power. Yes, in the end I melted when he left but I made him leave. Finally I decided I had to leave that situation. I left him and that freakin backrack behind. I tapped into the strength and the courage that it took to do so. To walk away from everything I cared about. I let that feeling course all through my body. That was a conscious choice. I had to allow myself to feel powerful.

It isn't about thinking good thoughts. It is about allowing yourself to feel them. Through every cell in your body. For a while afterwards I would have to force that feeling to take over my melting down when I saw a backrack but it left me - the feeling of powerlessness left me because I forced an image of me being brave and strong and fighting for my freedom and winning that.

It can be done. I have used it over and over again and my life has changed tremendously. Honestly, this is a really important posting. This is a really valid and powerful question. It changed my life when I realized that I could overlay one set of emotions for another.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

@shimmerz - That's kind of where I wanted to go with my response before, but the words just weren't coming out so I stopped. And you're right it is about feelings. Thanks!

 

[Recovery4Me]

@shimmerz OMG, I got chills seeing you stand up for yourself! Incredible and powerful share.


"An arch consist of two weaknesses, which, when leaning on each other become a strength." ~Leonardo da Vinci


We are stronger for leaning together. Thank you, everyone for your authentic shares.