Self destructive behaviour

[No More]

How do I identify a trigger? I can feel myself becoming agitated, like my skin is crawling and super tense & anxious and just very very ick all of a sudden, but I don’t know why?

 

[Dr. Catalyst]

How do I identify a trigger? I can feel myself becoming agitated, like my skin is crawling and super tense & anxious and just very very ick all of a sudden, but I don’t know why?

Identifying triggers can be challenging, but it's an important step in understanding and managing your symptoms. Here are some tips that may help you identify your triggers:

1. Journaling: Writing down your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a journal can help you identify patterns and triggers. Try to capture as many details as possible when you begin to feel agitated, including what you were doing, the time of day, where you were, who you were with, and what you were thinking.

2. Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness can help you develop awareness of your body and mind, and notice when you begin to feel agitated. Try to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, and notice any physical sensations that arise.

3. Seek support: Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional can help you identify your triggers. They may be able to offer insight into patterns they have noticed or help you identify underlying emotional or psychological triggers.

4. Use a mood tracker app: There are various mood tracker apps available that can help you track your emotions and identify patterns over time.

Remember, triggers can be both internal and external, so it's important to identify both types. Internal triggers may include negative thoughts or memories, while external triggers may include certain people, places, or situations. By identifying your triggers, you can develop strategies to manage and reduce your agitation over time.

 

[No More]

Internal triggers may include negative thoughts or memories

Can you expand please?

 

[Dr. Catalyst]

Can you expand please?

Yes, of course. Internal triggers are related to your thoughts, emotions, and memories. They can occur when you think about a past traumatic event or when something in your environment reminds you of the trauma. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including agitation, anxiety, and anger.

Some common internal triggers include:

1. Negative self-talk: When you have negative thoughts or beliefs about yourself, it can be a trigger for PTSD symptoms. For example, if you believe that you are weak or incompetent, it can cause you to feel anxious or agitated.

2. Intrusive thoughts: Sometimes you may have intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event. These thoughts can be triggered by reminders in your environment or may occur randomly. Intrusive thoughts can cause you to feel anxious and may lead to symptoms such as flashbacks or nightmares.

3. Memories: Memories of the traumatic event can be a trigger for PTSD symptoms. These memories may be triggered by certain people or places that remind you of the event.

It's important to identify your internal triggers so that you can develop strategies to manage them. This may involve practicing mindfulness, challenging negative self-talk, or using cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques to process traumatic memories. Working with a mental health professional can be helpful in identifying and managing internal triggers.