I kinda see it like this.....external events-something that was caused by another event, person, or situation are not caused by you or your feelings... but you do have the effect of feeling something or nothing (not the cause)....they are caused by something external to you. So, x event/external situation happened causing you to feel Y or feel nothing. You can also switch the thinking around that I'm sad (effect) because she died (her dying is still the cause, no matter which way you word it.)
Internal events-Some part of you has a conflict with another part (part of you wants to lash out at the abuser, and another part thinks it's not safe)-creating conflict within us, generated by self/parts (caused by) your own feelings. In this case, maybe the conflict between parts causes the feeling of confusion (effect).
While I'm not in your head, I disagree with your original belief because you give all your personal power over to your feelings when you say, "my feelings are what's actually causing everything."
Yeah, your feelings don't have that much power to "cause everything" (death, the mall shutting down, the mailman not showing when you needed the package to arrive on time, the president getting elected-they are all causes for feelings-which are a reaction to a situation) and by believing this.....you give up personal control over your emotions. But I do agree that internal feelings of parts do play a role into getting us into trouble, dissociating, or when they aren't communicating with you/or each other in the decision-making process, and having us end up in the closet....but there was always a precipitant -an event, situation, or action.
Maybe I'm not understanding you very well.....