Stressor vs. Trigger - What Is A Trigger?

[Cynthiatoo]

Anthony
Have you consider writing a book on PTSD? There is nothing on the market to my knowledge that speaks from the PTSD sufferers point of view.

You are extremely knowledgeable and provide information in a concise sequential writing style. It is factual, easy to read and has a precise direction, which does not allow for the reader to head off into areas that are ineffectual.

I believe the book is already written within this website and would just need to be compiled and placed into the correct format for publishing.

There is a very real need for this information and your knowledge to be "out there" for others, particularly people who frequent libraries and have no internet access or even perhaps skills to use the internet.

If you do ever consider it a worthy option, I would be happy to help with formatting. I got very good results for my written work at University and would consider it a community service to assist.

Please feel free to email me personally if you would like to discuss it.

 

[anthony]

Hi Cynthia,

Not specifically interested in writing a book... others have done it and whilst some may view it, quite honestly I think people can get more out of a community than just a book. The idea doesn't fascinate me... though thanks for your offer. I would honestly prefer well written, direct, proofed information be available here. I would think the majority of people nowadays have some sort of access to the net and a printer.

 

[Kintsugi]

A definition or understanding of a flashback is often where misinformation begins. Movies portray a flashback to be a movie like stream of a past event, and that's not true at all. A flashback is a "re-experiencing" event associated to a memory. The re-experiencing aspect of a flashback can be visual, auditory, emotional and more.

That makes a lot of sense, anthony, though I wonder: I seem to experience flashbacks as very movie-like, like I am actually a child again in the scenario of one of my traumas, and it's all just the same as living it, like a film reel of the event from my exact perspective is playing in my head and my eyes see nothing of what is actually in my environment at all. Coming to is like waking up from a daytime nightmare, bewildering and disorienting. Is this what you meant by movie-like, or is this different from what you were describing as misinformation?
Thank you. This is very helpful to me to identify and understand, triggers vs. flashbacks and their specific definitions.

 

[anthony]

Yes, my point was more movies only show one definition of a flashback. Many often confuse a flashback with dissociation as well... they all are separated with a very fine line IMO.

 

[Abstract]

Yes, my point was more movies only show one definition of a flashback. Many often confuse a flashback with dissociation as well... they all are separated with a very fine line IMO.

Anthony,
If one has an intrusive memory/image (from a narrative perspective not an experiencing perspective) and there is what feels like strong emotional re experiencing involved then I imagine it is an intrusive memory and not a flashback?

That the narrative content of the image precludes the emotional aspect being a flashback/re experincing event.? I hope that makes some sense.
Many thanks.

 

[anthony]

You nailed it with memory... it is just that, a memory, yes. People get all to wound up to be perfectly honest in memories, dissociation and flashbacks. Two of them are just symptoms... the first you can't ever do anything about, because a memory is a memory, and the more you try and forget it, the more you will remember it.

 

[Reclusive]

So.... I went into the bathroom tonight and there was a spider in my bathtub. After I was done running away, making sure my hunny killed it, grabbed a picture of it, and identified it I wondered - is the spider a trigger or a stressor? I refuse to acknowledge it as a phobia because it's a perfectly rational fear - my mother was bit by a spider, lost all 4 limbs, and died. I'm asking purely out of academic curiosity.

 

[Srain]

I would think that according to the definition "based only upon a direct connection to an actual traumatic event experienced" that it was a trigger. That is if I'm understanding this correctly. I'm just trying to get this straight myself. In fact I appreciate this posting as my tdoc has been mentioning this to me as we speak.

By the way I'm so terribly terribly sorry about what happened to your Mother :(.

Rain

 

[Reclusive]

I'm thinking so, too, but more based on my reaction of turning and running to get my h to save me.

You know, you just stumped me, Srain. I don't know how to react to that in a place like this. Normally I say something like "It's okay, she's better now." but it's not okay. So... do I say 'thank you'? I'm all confused now.

 

[Srain]

Of course it's not okay, how could it be? It was a horrible and traumatic incident as well as loss for you.

When people have said they are sorry for my loss I usually tell them that I appreciate them thinking of me. It's short and polite, I don't have to linger on the topic or go any further. Does that help?

Rain

 

[Reclusive]

Yes, that does help a lot. I don't know why I never learned this, but I thank you tons.

Thank you for thinking of me. :)

 

[Srain]

Of course, never easy to lose anyone let alone in such a way. There seems to be no handbook for some things, it truly sucks, or at least I missed a lot of them. I'm finding straight up asking works great for me too, one of the reasons I like this place :)