Angry And Triggered By Everything

[Thisgirl]

Today I am so angry, I'm being triggered by everything and everyone is annoying me to no end. I had to go grocery shopping, something I normally avoid on a Saturday morning.

I expect everyone else to go quickly and do it right the first time. People that walk on the wrong side of the aisle at the store annoy me, the deli person ignored me, the cashier was too slow. I'm spinning. I've been dealing with memories lately of ritual abuse, along with the rigid control my parents had over every aspect of my life. I think there should be rules for the world to follow.

I understand managing my triggers but what do you do when you feel so wronged by people just living their lives and being who they are? I see my therapist later this week.

 

[The Albatross]

If that's the case, you're driving your own cycle by your perceptions. People live their own lives, they do not exist to stay out of your way AND they do not do things to upset YOU so far as your own grocery store item. What do you DO to manage your triggers? What can you find out of balance with what you "expect" of others?

 

[Thisgirl]

Of course I can logically think, ok people are living their own lives, it is not personal. I can see that at the time and when I think about it after.

Are you saying, by logically reasoning this after the fact or even at the time will stop the triggers? I feel like I have been doing that for years and if I am dealing with a lot of stuff I will still be triggered.

In the case of this type of trigger (crowds) I avoid the situation. I do have trouble not taking things personally in general, no amount of logic is making that go away.

 

[The Albatross]

So far as stopping triggers, I've had a lot of progress but at times there is little I have available to stop a trigger but by giving my preference for rational reasoning over my reactivity or feelings... yeah it can improve. Not taking things personally can be learned.