Stressor vs. Trigger - What Is A Trigger?

[Deleted member 5760]

Jadebear, writing it down could be a very good idea yes. How about this for an idea? Just buy a notepad and divide it into 2 columns. Label column 1 'Directly related to traumatic event'. Label column 2 'Cannot relate to traumatic event'. And when you place something in the 'directly related' column reason it in a direct way.

I walk into the shops to do my groceries, just as James B said, and I feel stress. But I can't really say that anything has happened to me in a grocery store buying bread, etc. It's just the general stress of being around people. So, I'd place that in the 'indirectly related' column. Ie, a stressor, not a trigger. The balcony in Thailand at night I would put in column 1 - and I can reason that being in column 1 (ie - my best friend jumped off a balcony of a certain size, at night, in a foreign country, etc etc).

That's not to say stressors don't matter or have any less impact on your life, but they do differ from direct triggers. Anthony sums it up very well with his hypothetical example at the beginning of this thread I believe. I'll end this post with my usual disclaimer - I'm not a mental health professional. Just a fellow sufferer trying to help by sharing my experiences and thoughts.

 

[Jade-]

Thanks Jen. I'll try your suggestion.

 

[Jade-]

I'd like some help understanding this stuff.

Today I had to show up in court for my son. I had so much anxiety before court time and almost couldn't go. I ended up leaving the courtroom due to anxiety while in there.The room started closing in, the policemen started looking extra tall and seemed extra close to me, I started to panic so I got up and left real quick. I'm still in a state of panic, almost 8 hours later. I'm assuming going to court was a stressor, but maybe actually being in the courtroom with police,etc. was a trigger? Or was just going to court at all a trigger?

BTW, when I was 5, my dad tried to rape the neighbor lady and my brothers and my sister and I all stopped him. I was questioned by the cops and my dad went to prison. So what part would be a trigger?

 

[onlybygrace]

I have noticed that events or memories can become "linked" so that for me it can be hard to separate them when triggered. I am learning to become as aware as I can when triggered because I put myself in danger and others which happened several weeks ago because of it. This was the first trigger that was potentially fatal. So...I am teaching myself to slow down and assess as much I can while stressors are all lined up....so if I am triggered, I can be prepared to be aware and do what I have to do to detonate the bomb. Is it okay to say "b..." here?....just joking. Kidding aside, I also journal and keep close tabs on my feelings. Ptsd sufferers are good at hyperviligance, why not be hyperviligant in regards to our bodies and our triggers? God bless hope this helps....

onlybygrace

 

[blackpearl]

Hi Anthony,

Good clarifying, but I think you are wrong about this one:

"Your girlfriend or boyfriend talking with you, annoying you, are not a trigger, but a stressor to your internal stress cup, ie. all the stress you can take thus your internal stress model overflows and triggers a stress response, anger, yelling, fighting, etc."

It's very much a trigger for example those who have been mentally abused and threatened their integrity or safety in a way where they have felt total helplessness and so on (usually children). I don't necessary mean something that happens one or tho times if it's an heavy argue about something less serious.

Even those who get mentally abused tend later after a Ptsd debut watch over every word or move the one who reminds of the threatener is taking. Just as you military have your own triggers and signs for reminders of the life threatening situation.

Let me ask you some questions.

What does an 2 year old child do when her daddy is yelling at her and won't let her go to the toilet before she has done some things as he wants it ? Imagine there is no one else to support tis small, young an undeveloped brain in a situation like that. The child will not understand and she will feel it horrifying. Let this girl live with this nasty father for 4-5 months and she will change somehow for ever. (Coming up and had to be dealt with later when your brain is more developed for ex. in age of 20)

What does a soldier do when he has to watch his body parts and his surrounding every second ? Let the soldiers do over time.

What is the difference ?
The first one is 2 yers old and vulnerable for her experiences. The second is a grown up human being and vulnerable for his experiences.

The child's trigger will in grown up age be for ex. arguing in a special way, threatening ...
And the soldiers trigger will be (according to your explanation)

Hope you understand what I mean, not meant to upset you in any ways.
I'm tired as a .. do no what.

C u
Blackbear

 

[Jade-]

I'd like some help understanding this stuff.

Today I had to show up in court for my son. I had so much anxiety before court time and almost couldn't go. I ended up leaving the courtroom due to anxiety while in there.The room started closing in, the policemen started looking extra tall and seemed extra close to me, I started to panic so I got up and left real quick. I'm still in a state of panic, almost 8 hours later. I'm assuming going to court was a stressor, but maybe actually being in the courtroom with police,etc. was a trigger? Or was just going to court at all a trigger?

BTW, when I was 5, my dad tried to rape the neighbor lady and my brothers and my sister and I all stopped him. I was questioned by the cops and my dad went to prison. So what part would be a trigger?

Quoting myself because I don't want my questions to be overlooked......

 

[Nicolette]

Jadebear I would like to answer your question however I am not qualified to do so. Perhaps others have not answered due to not knowing the answer. Do you have a therapist you can run this question by?

Based on the little I know the entire event seemed like a stressor as the only thing in common with what you previously experienced was the being questioned part as you don't specify that your dad's incident involved court. Most people, even without PTSD, can find going to court stressful so add PTSD to the mix and you have overloaded anxiety IMHO.

The only other thing I can think of is that did your son rape someone as that then would also carry a similar thread to your dad's situation and hence may have been a trigger.

I think you need to go back and read the first post a few times and then come back and read it again for you to workout your answer.

 

[blackpearl]

Who is Blackbear ? Did I really write that :-O OK...

So you mean that a stressor may trigger a flashback and that one has to identify the triggers so you don't get trigged in to a flashback ? Stressors you can work on, but triggers is harder.

I can see news about an fire accident, that stresses med. When I smell fire smoke it is a trigger and if it burns in my neighbors apartment I do get a flashback.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

There is actually no such thing as an emotional flashback.

If there is no such thing as an emotional flashback, WTF am I experiencing? I assume you are attacking the work of Pete Walker, am I correct? His articles have helped me to get a hold on my "emotional flashbacks", but now you completely dismiss what I experience.

 

[Iam]

Ok.....can I throw a curve ball in here? So, when I dissociate, what causes that? A stressor, trigger or flashback? I suppose it could be any of them, but is one more commonly associated with dissociation?

 

[goingonhope]

SOL, he's human. He has his thoughts, ideas, opinions, knowledge and we have ours, and this Pete Walker guy has his. Where in some book of rules does it say if someone thinks or believes differently from us that it is to be assumed that they're attacking anyone or are claiming to have announced their thoughts and beliefs as if equivalent to principles or law?

Do, You or I, get any healthier while attempting to dismiss and/or invalidate others and/or ourselves during simple differences of beliefs and thoughts such as this one, or do we just allow people to be human?

If there is no such thing as an emotional flashback, WTF am I experiencing? I assume you are attacking the work of Pete Walker, am I correct? His articles have helped me to get a hold on my "emotional flashbacks", but now you completely dismiss what I experience.

 

[Freddy_hiding_less]

Is this not a question of words, if there would be, such a thing as an emotional flashback it has to be different from what a "regular" flashback is.

What I can experience is fast or instantaneous state or mood changes without any sensory recollections or any specific thoughts happening, these changes seems to happen systematically due to stress or/and events. Is there an appropriate label for that.