Do Any Of You Have Triggers That Follow From Your Train Of Thought?

[Tei-Saji]

Like if you see something that makes you think about something else, and then that something else reminds you of your trauma. Introverts like me do this all the time, and it's hard to not be triggered when I'm in my head. And it's only when I'm in my head that my train of thought triggers me. When I'm in my head, I feel like everything is a trigger of the distant past.

 

[Changing4Best]

I find myself worrying about the future and I will sit there not thinking of it one minute and the next I suddenly remember what had been worrying me earlier in the day and then I get a panic attack, or at least anxiety. Since I was homeless for 3 years one time, I'm pretty sure the panic or anxiety is based in that, though I don't readily think about it, as I was raped during that time. It is mostly buried and so the anxiety or panic is my mind warning me about what could happen if I end up homeless again.

 

[greenleaf]

Definitely thinking and imagining can be triggers! It can feel like a circle sometimes I think; feeling a bit nervous so starting to think about possible problems, perhaps to try to protect against bad outcomes, but then getting triggered and feeling more fear, which keeps the mind going... One thing I found to try is to consciously interrupt the circle with thoughts that are going to feel more calming to the nervous system. It's difficult to do, but the nervous system can respond to calming imaginings just as it can to frightening ones.

If the underlying nervous state is pretty hyperaroused to start with, this calming seems much harder to do; I use exercise to get that down a bit in my normal life.

 

[Deleted member 18673]

Part of PTSD is intrusive thoughts about the trauma and I have that all the time. As soon as I'm left alone with my head it's all I think about. I basically spend my days trying to distract myself, but I still get triggered by the slightest things. It's the worst when the day is done and I'm laying in bed trying to sleep; then it all washes over me in a wave. I've found meditation and mindfulness to be somewhat helpful and I hope the more I practice it, the less problem I'll have with intrusive thoughts.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Yep. All the time. Some times when I catch myself doing this (if I can catch myself before or early on in the trigger), I will actually say "stop it" several times out loud. If I am lucky, that will help me.

 

[tired of the fight]

@conquer

I go through the same thing. I wasn't able to put it into words the way you did. I have a hard time with words for some reason. It's like my brain locks up. Just reading what you wrote, let me know that I'm not the only person in the whirlwind. (hugs)

 

[Tei-Saji]

Some times when I catch myself doing this (if I can catch myself before or early on in the trigger), I will actually say "stop it" several times out loud.

When I think about doing that, I feel I'll sound like someone with mental problems (I realize I am). Then those feelings bring up memories of being teased for being in special education. It's terrible.

On the upside, I'm so relieved to find that many people have 'liked' my first post and are going through a similar ordeal as me. :D

 

[tired of the fight]

@Tei-Saji

yeppers .. were not alone in this area :)

 

[xena21]

Like if you see something that makes you think about something else, and then that something else reminds you of your trauma.

Wow, you hit the nail on the head for me. I get flashbacks all the time after seeing something related to something else. I could just be sitting listening to music and a phrase is sung which reminds me of a certain day and then that connects me to my trauma. Any litlte thing like that. It happens every day.

I get flashbacks just from seeing or listening, smelling things to, but thinking and being in my head makes the trauma thoughts so much more prevalent. I don't necessarily worry about the future, because I'm so depressed I always never think there will be one, but the past is a huge thing for me. Good thread.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I had EMDR and it really got rid of so many painful intrusive thoughts for me. In fact it changed my life for the better. I still get them sometimes but the sting is gone from the memory for the most part except on my bad days. I was ready for it though. I was so terrified of doing it but I highly recommend it for you sometime in the future when you are more stable.

Good luck.