I'm Still Confused About Triggers

[Jagged Angel]

I have had to speak to my therapist about this one recently - I was told that facing the triggers is definitely the best thing to do, de-sensitise yourself to them. Unfortunately (and I think this would apply to many people here) I have so many damned triggers that some days it is like being buffeted from one to the next and I'm suddenly bouncing off walls...

So, the therapist says 'one trigger at a time'. Sounds difficult, no? Yes, it's difficult to focus on the one trigger when you're being bombarded from all sides, but as you say, She Cat, you can't avoid them... you'll end up being a hermit who just sits on the couch...

 

[Dylan]

Hi TLight,

I relate to having a very broad range of commonly occurring situations as triggers. I guess it goes back to the amygdala making those broad generalizations in an attempt to keep me safe.

My journey has been much like Jagged Angel describes: one trigger at a time.

I use a form of CBT to work through and "rewire" my triggers and it DOES change. Sometimes that generalization technique my brain has also works FOR me; a related situation (B) may lose its charge once I deal with the initial triggering situation (A), or it may be so much less that it requires less work to deplete the related triggers.

From the bottom of that hill it can look like an overwhelming mountain of (yet more) frigging work. BUT, in that moment that I'm working through the trigger, when I come out the other side, there is such relief and hope generated from getting out from underneath and through that pain, it brings energy to bear for the next round. When I get too tired, I throw a tantrum, cry, mourn, get pissed....whatever I need to do and then......keep climbing. Every step I take, every trigger I work on makes it that much lighter, that much better.

HTH...

-Dylan

 

[TLight]

Thanks for the hope Dylan.

 

[Petchen]

T-Light,

I am so understanding you...

Sometimes I blank out and imagine I am oinking at them...

I tried the trigger therapy...no good for me. Sometimes some things just aren't right for everyone. I ended up writing a journal about some of the experiences. It wasn't pretty at all...I called it my "ugly inside" writings. Send me a message if you want I'll send them to you. It's kinda vulgar though. ;-/

Can you imagine that these oinkers are little troll men...or green men with antenna on their heads...something harmless perhaps. But know that if they get to close then that warrants the mace.

Sometimes I just pick my nose or start talking about shit guys hate. Say what a great actress Glen Close is...her best work being Fatal Attraction. "Say, do you keep Rabbits? I make a great stew." LOL ;-)

A friend of mine said recently after I told him some guy was following me on the highway...sitting in the lane next to me, matching speeds with me for miles to watch me in the windows...he says.... " you should be flattered." Huh? what? are you an insane person too? Asswipe was stalking me... at the time... I had totally forgotten about my nose picking trick....duh! That works, I swear!

;-)

 

[2quilt]

What topics do men hate us to talk about? Our periods? Give five exapmles that I can use on my DH to irritate him.

 

[Xenu]

Don't be too vicious w/ these.

1, your period
2. your ex
3. celebrity gossip
4. your friends new car
5. your/his trauma

 

[Petchen]

Nice big roosters....

:rofl: