Questions About Triggers And Flashbacks

[loui50]

I have 2 questions but I didn't want to start 2 threads, so I hope this is okay.

First of all, are your triggers always triggers and are they always the same? Here is what I mean. I got triggered by a knife the other day. A knife I've had and used for years was suddenly a trigger. Are triggers possibly dependent on your state of mind at the time. Some things are known triggers for me, like raw red meat. But sometimes I can touch meat and it doesn't trigger me, but it usually does. I hope this makes sense.

Second, I had a flashback to a time I almost committed suicide with a knife. It was triggered by a large knife sitting on the counter. Tonight I tried to use the knife to cut up potatoes and i got very anxious and my wrists started hurting like a phantom pain even though when I almost attempted suicide, I didn't actually cut myself. There was no visual, just the anxiety and the feeling in my wrists. Is this still a flashback? Or was I just triggered?

I'm learning so much about PTSD on here and from my therapist that I didn't know. Even though I have had it for 12 years and was in therapy with a different T for 7-8 years. I feel like my previous T didn't have much experience with Trauma and she didn't teach me the coping skills I needed. So sorry for all my questions and for posting so often.

 

[7Cs]

I absolutely know that there are times I am more likely to be triggered than others. It's usually when I'm still emotionally raw from a recent emotional flashback. Or it can happen more easily around a "traumaversary".

As far as the physical connection, I'm not sure. I know flashbacks can occur with physical sensations (somatic flashbacks). So I'm assuming that that is what is happening with you. My physical reactions to flashbacks are usually sympathetic, they are usually heart racing or nausea which is a fight or flight response.

If the knife is triggering high emotion and physical flashbacks be careful with yourself, be aware that sometimes emotional flashbacks occur. It would be a good time for practicing grounding techniques and think of who you can call if things get bad. It sounds like this could drop you back in that state of hopelessness. If that happens try to remember that those feelings are from the past and have nothing to do with your current situation.

 

[loui50]

Thanks for responding 7c. I got to see my T today. I have had a sharp increase in flashbacks and dissociation and she is concerned. She said something along the lines of there is a memory causing all this and she wished we could use our session to just process it and get it out but she was afraid of the emotional fallout for me so she wouldn't do it. She helped me with grounding and let me know i am not losing my mind though.

 

[BlueOrange]

I often find that when my life is going really well, that my subconscious will say "Right then! Time to bring another pile of garbage up from the vault!"

It can really really suck, but it does tend to improve. (Up until the point where my life is going _Even Better_... *sigh*)

 

[Kailani]

I have had the same experience with the triggers and pain. I think it's a memory that triggers dissociation. Can't be sure. Would love to hear what your therapist thinks. Found grounding helpful and EMDR.