What Are Your Triggers?

[CafeAulait]

I believe that some of my PTSD is related to the verbal abuse I received from my mother as a child as well as her minimizing my feelings. Does anyone else seem to suffer today in the same way I've explained above?

 

[TLight]

You betcha............

People can be very mean spirited, especially when feeling insecure or threatened. I think with PTSD, this can be extremely triggering to us...........as mean is what damaged us.

Hard to put things in perspective when out tiny animal part of our brain is extremely involved in protecting us. It's not wonder these things put us into a tailspin.

 

[Manic11]

Definitely.
Triggers can come in way too many forms. Triggers can be anything.

Unfortunately, because of the trauma we have suffered, our brains work a certain way. They're "trained". Just like when I was young and my dad would hurt me when I did something wrong, whenever someone gets mad at me or I have done something wrong I automatically expect to get hurt or I feel like I deserve to get hurt. My brain is trained that way.
Same way yours is from the abuse you suffered.

Some triggers people need to avoid because they're just so harmful. Others are good to face because you're exposing yourself to them. If you get triggered and are worried about getting hurt then each time you realize you didn't get hurt, your brain will retrain itself.

I wish you the best. Know you aren't alone.
Manic

 

[anni]

HI,

Wow is that familiar. One comment can knock me completely off balance for the rest of the day, or an awful lot longer. It's usually something critical or judgmental and is worse if it's from a casual acquiantance or stranger.

It is appalling how often people feel free to just unload unsolicited 'advice' or a criticism to a complete stranger! I can't imagine anyone not already burdened with PTSD wouldn't have their day shot to heck by such an intrusion. For me, it can be shattering although I have to say I will rarely have the presence of mind to fire back at the jerk. I'll just crawl away and try to re-group. I wish I were able to respond because I think it would be helpful to not feel so helpless in that situation!

Incidentally, it doesn't always have to be verbal. A nasty, bitchy person directing hostile looks can dissolve me also.

You're very much not alone, and perhaps stronger than you imagine! You are sometimes able to direct your anger back at the idiot, which to me speaks of strength I do not possess as of yet!

Take care,

Anni

 

[Onefineday]

I have a lot of triggers, alcohol, men, people getting mad...
If I smell alcohol as someone walks past me or something, I get a rush that goes through me and every thought, feeling and emotion comes flooding back, I completely avoid any situation with alcohol, that means no going out with friends or going to family parties (not that I personally give a shit about seeing my family as they have never cared or taken any responsibility, and even had an open bar at my 21st after it was asked that there be NO alcohol), if I'm with people while they drink I tend to get really snappy with people, or my demenor will completely change within 3 seconds. With men, well I'm sure you know how I feel by now. And when people yell, especially if it's a man, I flip out. I can't get in a fight with anyone, even if it's just a few words and no yelling. Even if I'm livid, all I can do is cry, I start shaking, and I get worked up for about 2 days thinknig the entire world is against me and that I am the most worthless person on the planet. I just lay in bed and cry and hate myself.

 

[sticks-and-stones]

My triggers can be anything: recently they've been: seeing a person who I last saw at the party where I was attacked, my housemate saying/doing certain stupid things (like glorifying Sean Connery as James Bond raping Pussy Galore (apparently) in Goldfinger), actually, that housemate in general really doesn't help, or it could be a certain smell, being in the dark, feeling trapped.
Some friends of mine are putting on an African Film Festival at the weekend - and I am trying to work out if I should go or not... I know there's going to be a lot of violence in the films, and I'm sure it will trigger me, but should I try to overcome this and not let PTSD rule my life?

 

[clare]

Hi everyone,

When I know I'm headed for conversation that is likely to be triggering, I try to prep myself for it. For instance, I know that negotiations over my son's IEP are tough, so I put on my legal persona and practice my points and responses to what will likely be said. When the comments are unexpected I try to think first-why are they saying, not what are they saying. If I try to keep mindful that most mean speak is the result of fear I can tone things down with emphatic gestures and steer away from sarcasm.

Sticks,

About the movie festival, I wouldn't go if I knew it was going to show films of gratuitous violence. I just don't see how this could be helpful. I won't watch slasher films because I don't think glorification of gore is entertaining. Some films I do watch even though they may trigger are for instance, Hotel Rwanda (sp?), Goodfellas, Born into Brothels. These films I know ahead of time offer me a sense of personal identification and understanding. I like documentary style films that offer lessons and I research the films before watching them. With these films I can see both sides of victimization, gain a deeper knowlege of "pack mentality" and see the the beauty in survival, the strength and frailness of humanity in all its complexities. So I guess I would ask why do you want, or feel the need to watch these films and do you think they will offer in vaulable insights or are you interested in de-sensitizing yourself?

 

[Manic11]

So I guess I would ask why do you want, or feel the need to watch these films and do you think they will offer in vaulable insights or are you interested in de-sensitizing yourself?

I have PTSD. PTSD does not have me.

Manic

 

[anni]

Hi,

I wish I could get close enough to any of these films to even try de-sensitizing. :) I can't watch anything more tense than the darn weather. I even have to leave the room if the Steelers are down in the 4th quarter! :) That's completely true, actually.

I'd never considered trying to de-sensitize via films, etc. Is that something which helps? I don't know if I could manage it but am very interested in learning about anything which might help.

Take care,

Anni

 

[tryintobreathe]

Here's the short list...

Churches
Crosses
Anything Catholic
Crowds
Feeling trapped...traffic is a good example..I need an escape route!
Loud noises
Change
Being someplace I've never been before
Authority
Certain aftershave smells

Those are probably my main triggers. I know there are more things, but those are the things that seem to affect me the most in my life. Great thread!

Jen

 

[Pam]

Dylan, you described my sister to a tee. She was one of the popular girls in school yet had horrible battles in her head since she was little. She even hates good news because then when something bad happens, she has further to fall into the abyss. When she was barely a teen, and her mare had given birth to a colt, the first thing she asked when Grandma woke us up with the news was, "Is it dead?" She is now 54 and has found a bit of happiness, but it has taken that long to find just that little bit. The fact that she is here at all is a testament to her unbelievable will to survive in spite of her battles.

 

[BethRSA]

I'll list some of my triggers (it'd take forever to list everything that has ever triggered me) and how I'm doing with it now:
-construction work (hammering, drilling, pounding, etc.)--still very much there, but getting better with forced exposure therapy
-cold, rainy weather--if no other triggers are present, it's OK
-car trouble (flat tire, engine won't start, etc.)--very panicy if it happens. At least I do drive (even alone) without constantly worrying it's going to happen any more
-men in stocking hats--OK now
-men in blue workmen's overalls--OK now
-seeing a bushy area (reeds) along-side the highway--a bit nervous
-smelling wine/alcohol on someone's breath--easy to have a flashback
-seeing an open pocket/hunting knife--quite panicked
-feeling a knife, razor or anything on my neck--quite panicked

I won't go on forever. Thanks for starting this thread. It gives me some ideas for what to work on