Triggered By This Forum

[Sally sue]

Hi all,

I get so much out of this site! But, I realized today I was triggered by one of the posts, and this month is the anniversary for me of a death, murder, suicide...I'm thinking "I hate April" :(.

My T is on vacation this next week, and so I can't ask her...she's is very supportive of how much I get out of this site :) BUT I can't stop thinking of the past now, looking up old news articles about these traumatic times, AND I really don't know how to help myself :(.

I'm so sad :cry: , angry, and confused! It makes me mad at myself and others that these traumas happened years ago and I'm still triggered, AND I look to this site for support and to support others, but now I'm scared to read stuff ahhhhh!

Does anybody else have or had this problem?

Sally Sue

 

[atthree]

I'm sorry, this is happening to you too. It is such a short subject,"It's like remembrance" and I feel I not only live for myself, but the other as well.

PS: The site helps me as well

 

[bluebird]

Hi, Sally, I am also new in here, so, welcome!

I guess it´s pretty normal to get triggered by posts containing similar experiences as yours... It is a natural part of your brain processing the trauma. I was told that these symptoms decrease during therapy... Don´t worry, there is nothing wrong with you.

I also get triggered sometimes by reading something, more by hearing or actually seeing something that reminds me of my own trauma... You are not alone in this! :rolleyes:

If you are not feeling well in this moment, maybe try doing something else for a while - like, not continuing in reading other posts in here, but try to calm down yourself by listening to your favourite music, relaxing your muscles, eating ice-cream - whatever you might find helpful... Then you can start reading again. You do not deserve to feel miserably...

Hope you feel better soon! :tup:

 

[intothelight]

Being triggered by some the posts is pretty normal, and can be beneficial as it is a type of "exposure" therapy. I usually find that when a post triggers me, I'll read as much as I can, go back later and read again, and keep doing that until the discomfort subsides. So many times when I do read, I find the post contains things that I hadn't thought of or a brings to light a greater understanding.

 

[Promicarus]

So sorry this is such a difficult time for you. It's common for "anniversaries" of traumaric incidents to call up such feelings. But I'm concerned most by statements you made that sound like a cry for help.."my T is on vacation", and "I really dont know how to help myself" . Please remember, foremost, that these feelings pass, and just hild on. Also, a regular schedule to which you hold yourself, including some form of exercise, can do wonders, even if it sounds silly and trite to say so. I hope you can find some qay to tear yourself away from morbid reminders, as well..ie the internet, etc. Please call someone asap if ypu feel suucidal or like injuring yourself. Bw well, and know you're not alone.

 

[Seasounds]

To help minimize triggers, I limit what I read.

 

[Haloatters]

I'm going through my "annual" hard time right now as well. I had a really bad week where I didn't do any of my grounding techniques I learned in therapy. I went into my latest therapy session completely depressed, to which my therapist asked me how avoiding my grounding techniques was working for me. Boom. It was like a light went off. Of course I wasn't going to feel better if I wasn't doing anything to make myself feel better. While I still was very sad when I left, I actively concentrated on my grounding techniques the rest of the day. As after every therapy session, I went home and got on google. I was researching EMDR and got very triggered. I made myself do some deep breathing and kept repeating to myself that these are just thoughts. They cannot hurt me. They are just thoughts. If it was still too much,I stopped. I find I can deal with my triggers somewhat (I say somewhat because my dealing with my triggers still ain't pretty) better if I'm actively concentrating on grounding myself at the same time.

 

[scout86]

Yes, to both the anniversaries and to the "there are some things here I'm just NOT going to read" part. There are some posts I can tell by the title I probably don't want to read. Sometimes I start reading and think "Nope! Not going THERE!" and I move on. On particularly good days, I try a little do it yourself "exposure therapy" with that stuff, but I don't force the issue.

 

[duff]

I'm also going through an annual difficult time at this point!!! I am already feeling comforted seeing others in this thread who are feeling somewhat the same way. I don't have much else to add except there are good suggestions here, you aren't alone, and I hope you will be able to do some radical self-caring until your T gets back.

 

[cherryblossom]

@Sally sue - just a couple of links for you, which you might find useful / interesting

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/reading-forum-increases-symptoms.13886/

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/trauma-anniversaries-fact-vs-myth.13881/[/DLMURL]

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/trauma-anniversaries-discussion.3919/[/DLMURL]

 

[Dendrite]

To help minimize triggers, I limit what I read.

Yes, I find this is very important. Also, limit time that is spent here. Its really important to re-train the brain to see life not only as a trauma experience. The mind needs to be doing all sorts of things that are not related to trauma events or trauma processing, so it can heal.

Recent neuroscience teaches us that great healing can occur when we teach our mind to release the trauma mindset. Trauma processing should be a part of my week but a very significant part of it should be spent in the beautiful world around me.

This teaches us that we don't have to be defined by our trauma. I am me, not just my trauma stories. They are only a part of my existence. I much more than just trauma stories. :-)

My therapist taught me this many years ago.