General How Is Love A Trigger ?

[Deleted member 33287]

Can love or vulnerability be a trigger? Curious about your guys thoughts and experiences

 

[Cornnuts]

I don't think love itself is a trigger, I think it's what comes with love might be triggers. Affection, sexuality, responsibility for how you treat someone, being afraid of being hurt, living with someone, sharing thoughts or getting close to someone can all be triggers.

 

[anthony]

Anything can be a trigger, providing trigger is used in the correct context that the association is direct to the trauma itself.

 

[Justmehere]

Many abusers and perps say they love the victim.

Love and vulnerability go hand in hand. In the middle of trauma, vulnerability can mean death and/or serious boundary invasions.

So love gets associated with trauma, pain, boundary invasions, fear of death, etc. None of those things are love, but the association is there.

 

[Friday]

Stressor vs. Trigger - What Is A Trigger?

 

[Casey_03]

I think that for many sufferers, love is the biggest trigger. For me it certainly is. Because the trauma was caused by someone who claimed to love me, so now any mention of love has me running for the hills.

 

[Deleted member 33287]

Anything can be a trigger, providing trigger is used in the correct context that the association is direct...

Anthony Read your article. Sounds like love is a stressor than people with PTSD that haven't seek help struggle to handle properly

 

[EveHarrington]

Anthony Read your article. Sounds like love is a stressor than people with PTSD that haven't seek h...

I wouldn't say that it's a stressor only for those who haven't sought out help. It can be a stressor for anyone with PTSD even if they've gotten help.

 

[anthony]

I think people need to apply such things to their individual space versus projecting them outwards as though applicable to all. Quick example.

A person raped repeatedly over a long period in an abusive relationship, the abuser tells them repeatedly that they love them during sex. This person gets out of this abuse and later enters a healthier relationship. They're having sex and their partner tells them they love them, the person now freezes and dissociates.

This is a trigger based on their trauma, associating love, causing a specific symptomatic response.

A person enters a relationship and is well loved by their partner. They struggle with love and emotions, and now feel stressed that they're being loved and can't return the feelings to the same level. This is causing the person to become symptomatic ruminating upon the concern.

Love is now a stressor for the person.

Love is a very broad word, and probably not one of the best examples for use... but it can be associated as a trigger or stressor, depending on the individual situation.

 

[Fadeaway]

Anthony Read your article. Sounds like love is a stressor than people with PTSD that haven't seek help struggle to handle properly

That is a bit offensive. Most of us have sought years or help for it. It can take years and years of intense therapy to deal with. Especially if there were, but not limited to childhood issues.

 

[The ANP]

Also symptoms can be so consuming that trying to intermesh in a reciprocal loving relationship can be an added stress (though possible a positive stress). That additional stress of relating to somebody on a deeper level can trigger symptoms as well.