General Looking For Triggers

[lonetree]

We new to this and trying to identify what my SO's triggers are. So far I have been trying to stay alert when with her and when she disassociates I try to think of everything that happened before she went into it. Are there certain things I should be looking for over others?

 

[cherryblossom]

Triggers involve all senses. It could be a smell, a noise, a taste, a touch, a sight, a feeling. Sometimes it's really hard to even identify the trigger. Aslo, I have found that one trigger could lead to another. For example, when I was raped, I was grabbed from behind. Years later, I was knocked into hard, from behind, by some kids running from a supermarket. I was pushed so hard that I fell to the ground, which had me in grips of a terrifying panic attack. Now, going to the supermarket is a trigger for me, even though it had nothing to do with my original trauma.

I don't know if this helps?

 

[Daisee1203]

I found the more "work" I did toward healing, the more I found my triggers. In other words, the easier they were to identify for me. I also found when I started the healing process, my triggers were almost daily. Triggers aren't always traumatic. And (for me) the "big" ones took quite some time to build up and cause anxiety...like they were't instant. I would expect someone that has just started therapy or healing to be triggered quite often until they find their bearings.

I also find I am the best person to protect myself from said triggers. AND triggers today almost have nothing to do with original traumas. They just bring up emotion that reminds me of the original, thus activating old wounds.