Association Between Actions/objects And Emotions

[Bickslow]

We often talk about dissociation; when you become detached from reality, but what association? When an object, action, or place becomes so deeply ingrained with the memory or feeling of past abuse they become synonymous. When something had been tainted so heavily your mind instantly paths you down old pain and old emotions without provocation. It can be places reminiscent of where abuse took place, or the exact place itself, music, movies, food, smells, anything that took place or was present when abuse happened. I've been struggling with this immensely and was wondering if anyone else struggled as well. What have you associated? How do you handle it? How have you over come? I've been slowly working on mine but it hit me like a revelation last night that I associate so many emotions with so many things, that performing those actions can redefine my day, even if I wasn't in that frame of mind previously. I feel stressed EVERY time I head to the gym, even on perfect, completely stress-less days, simply because during abusive times that's how I relieved stress. Internally, therefore, if I am going to go work out I MUST be stressed. Patterns like this are rearing their destructive heads more and more. There's so many for me, down objects being certain colors, that it's becoming an issue. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice?

 

[Dana1010]

Hey there, @Bickslow. I'm pretty sure you're talking about triggers. Do a search for threads on that topic, and I'm sure you'll find lots of info. Good luck :).

 

[RussH]

I have read your post, and I think what you are referring to as association would be various triggers.
There are times we will find ourselves in a situation that is different, but similar to the situation we were abused in, it can cause your brain to revisit the trauma, or it can bring up any myriad of things associated with ptsd.
I hope this helps.

 

[Bickslow]

These aren't quite as strong as what I'd consider hardcore triggers for myself, I figured there was some term or word for it I didn't know, but if they fall into the same category that's good to know, now I can at least start somewhere.

 

[RussH]

I use to thing that the only trigger was the big trigger, but i have since learned that whenever something incites any one of several things, feelings of worthlessness, failure, etc, that is all associations, or triggers tied into my abuse.
So a trigger can be a small trigger, or a big trigger.

 

[Bickslow]

That's good to know...but overwhelming in what it currently means for me..damn.

 

[RussH]

The good news is you can work on desentising the triggers in therapy.

 

[Seasounds]

I have used a particular form of the Alexander Technique,
Along with some psychological tools, to create new pathways, where the trigger doesn't roar it's head. Ill describe more later; need to go now. Will write more tomorrow.

 

[Bickslow]

I hope you do! I'm curious to hear about this Technique!

 

[Friday]

Ahhhh... Triggers come on everything from BB guns to 50cals, don't they? From the tiny sting to the devastating. And everything in between. Sometimes even dart guns. Starts off as a tiny sting, you think it's just a BB but they just spread and spread... Until you're flat out on the floor. Whoops. That was a creeper.

Small triggers change a lot more frequently for me than big triggers. They tend to be on new associations which I can usually transmute fairly quickly, or things I've already or almost worked through, or mixed memories (bitter sweet).

 

[Seasounds]

Here is brief summary of my Alexander Technique work, with psychological principles, to help decrease habituated responses, to stimuli, linked to traumas. (I'm more than happy to elaborate, and even send you an article that I wrote, and got published, on this concept. Just need to wait until next weekend to do that task.)

• Usually, when I see an item, or hear something, associated with trauma, my body "tightens", just like I did with the original trauma. (This is the flight, flight, or freeze response.) Tightening-the neuromuscular response, awakens the old trauma.
• Learning how to 'un-tighten' , or more positively stated, learning how to 'restore your inherent neuromuscular coordination', opens up a new pathway, allowing for a new response, to the old stimuli.
• The Alexander Technique (A.T.) teaches people how to create this new pathway. I've been building new pathways for 20 years. Sure, I still get triggered; and I have the A.T. as a tool, to help me move through the old responses more quickly, as I create a new response, to the same stimuli.
• People can either see a quick, or a slow gradual change, in their coordination, while using the A.T. I have experienced both.
• Check out some articles on the Alexander Technique International website.
• Let me know if you want more information.
• Meanwhile, mindfully noticing what you notice, and then staying connected to your present intention, and alive to other sensory stimulation, in the present, will help you, create new responses. Believe it or not, singing while going past stimulating material can help; it helps more easeful neuromuscular coordination.
• If the triggers are severe, can you create other conditions, that decrease your exposure?

I hope this is helpful. Not all A. T. is the same; some is not helpful with triggers. ATI is a good website.

 

[Spiderallis]

That's an interesting technique @change Thanks for the great explanation.

It's been helpful for me to envision that flow of thoughts as streams branching off a river. It wears a deeper rut every time my thoughts follow that path, which makes it easier to go that way next time. Redirecting the stream towards where I'd rather it went takes conscious effort, but every time I do it the new association grows stronger and the old one gets weaker. Consistency is important. Pairing something positive with a trigger-y object or action will redirect the association, but it takes time. Is there something soothing or comforting you could do every time you're ready to go to the gym?