What Has Been Your Weirdest Trigger?

[DontGiveUpOnMe]

An orange gate outside of my aunts house. Scared the crap out of me and threw me into crying fits.

 

[Bachall]

Odd, unidentified trigger: shattering glass. I have a notion where this came from, but no way to confirm it. If glass shatters in my presence, I absolutely must clean up every bit, myself, or I will turn into an hysterical puddle. Everyone also has to leave. Preferably, the building. I sweep, vacuum, dust, then go over every suface with duct tape. Uh huh. I love me some duct tape. The anxiety sufferer's friend. 8-)

 

[Jen93]

I often have internalized emotional flashbacks, triggers include:

My brother.

Someone sitting to my left.

My mothers side of the family---- Even though they're normal people, they're all teachers, and my grandma can be strict with her tone of voice sometimes. Terrified of them all, even though they've done nothing to deserve it other than be teachers.

Someone laughing

Someone sitting behind me.

Hearing a weird noise that sounds like a clap- just a single one though.

Someone telling me not to laugh, that I was rude.

Hearing the words "Do you understand?"- in a no-nonsense kind of way.

Anything directed at me in a no-nonsense tone.

Someone standing to my left.

Cutting food- stupid utensils-and I never know when I'm doing it right.- I often end up with soup. I couldn't handle having to cut meat so I became a vegetarian.

Writing-They made fun of my writing because of my fine-motor skills and I get confused on how to write cursive sometimes when I pick up my pen... and I know I'm not allowed to use my "normal" writing (Print) like I did in elementary school.

These things have caused me to dissociate and let me tell you how embarrassing it it to have to pick up your plate at a family dinner, bring it to the head of the table and whisper to your mother "I don't know how to cut my food" and crying while you watch her do it.

It's humiliating to forget how to even feed yourself. And write. Thank goodness my pen has audio, so if I forget how to write in the middle of a lecture at university I can always listen to what I missed later and fill in the blanks!

 

[Bachall]

Old wall to wall carpeting. Orange, especially. One of my early full flashbacks was me hiding under the pool table in the dining room, and seeing my mom slash Daddy with her sewing scissors. The whole house was gorgeous hardwoods, rather worn. They both tried scrubbing, even sainding the stain, but they left it too long before seeing to it. Wall to wall carpeting was more fashionable, anyway.

I never understood it, but the very first thing I do when I move to a new house is tear out all the carpeting. Even if there is nothing but plywood underneath. When I told DH this story, he was the one who reminded me of that fact. :o

 

[Jen93]

Seeing or listening or reading or watching something that mentions disability (((specifics: hearing loss) or the effects of disability on people and how they are seen as "abnormal" sometimes.))).. Can't figure out why- because I actually have a severe to profound hearing loss...

I've broken down crying because we had to watch a movie called "Shameless: the Art of Disability" for class... and it was the ENTIRE thing that scared me... not just the part where the lady spoke of depression.

Being asked something by someone in an authority position, and feeling like I have to say yes.

Razors-I hate shaving, but I do it anyway.... only about once a month, and I always wear sweaters so I don't need to worry about my arms...

Scissors. There were scissors and a razor in my bathroom and I picked them up and ran out of the room with them and put them in my parents room before I got my shower.

I can't wear a brown skirt, or a kilt. or a dark blue sweater, like a cardigan.

The colour brown, kilts, and dark blue- like navy blue. Thank goodness I never see my brother wearing his jumper!

 

[Barberian]

I've been thinking of this all day. I couldn't think of anything that would be classified as a weird trigger. I just read the above few posts and I realized I do have a few weird triggers. It never started out as a PTSD trigger is why I probably didn't key in on it. It's affected me as far back as I can remember. Even as a little child the colors, textures and shapes just never felt "right" to me and often made me feel anxious for some reason. 1950's and 60's art deco, and a lot of art, furniture and porcelin figurines from that period. I'd say it's more of an anxiety trigger than a PTSD trigger which can be difficult to differentiate at times. Anxiety can set off any of my other conditions, so they can be interchangeable at times.

My T has an area carpet with repeating squares on it. They have different shaped square pattern in each square of alternating two tone browns of different thicknesses. None of the squares are like any other square in the rug. It is un-nerving for me to look at. I hate it. I can't stand to look at it. It has never been square to the room, this drives me crazy too. his desk has never been square to the wall either... Grrr. I've told my T, but he just doesn't seem to care.

so.. I guess I do have a few weird triggers.. hmmm. Most are anxiety or OCD tendancies, but they all feed each other. :poop: All the PTSD triggers are within expected parameters, startle response, anger managment, etc.

 

[Venusian]

Kentucky Fried Chicken, it is really a trigger of a trigger. When I was 10 I had a friend who's father managed a KFC and she always had KFC in the freezer to snack on when I slept over. One time I was there and we were eating, I was rubbing my shoulder because I had hurt it and he stood behind me to try and massage it. It wasn't done in a creepy way, just him trying to help, but I freaked out. It took a while for me to calm down but he never touched me again after that. Every time I eat fried chicken now I have that in the back of my mind.

 

[Pearl Black Eyes]

I'm not really sure what this is, but it really bothers me. My clothes. After I had my nervous breakdown I can't bring myself to wear my more stylish pieces of clothing. I get so anxious and upset. It's like I don't recognize them or the person (myself) who wore them. I kind of had my own style before, but now it doesn't make sense. So much doesn't make sense.

The Bachelor/ The Bachelorette. I assume this has something to do with when my grandma and my ex were saying I look I could be the bachelorette on that show. Not meaning I looked like a particular one though. Sorry if that's confusing. Not a particularly distressing situation, but anytime someone mentions that show, especially my grandma, I feel like I'm going to lose it.

Weather changes. Particularly Summer

Sometimes I'll say, "thank you" in a kind of exasperated tone jokingly. After I've already said it, I shudder. I forget about it until I've said it.

Kissing my cats used to trigger me, which was really strange because I've always been so affectionate with my animals. I desensitized myself to it though.

 

[Lav]

Triggers mmm, many triggers.:eek:

Movement in the bed while sleeping.

When somebody "shushes" me

My home town Mt Isa

Any references to family

 

[Pearl Black Eyes]

I don't know why I didn't add this one to my last post.

Whenever anyone asks about what I'm doing later or what did I do today or how have I been.

Ugh

 

[shell]

An english accent

Stubble on a chin

Being watched while writing

 

[cjf2010]

When my boyfriend stares at other woman(my ex would beat me when he cheated)!
When someone tells me I talk to much or shushes me!
When a phone rings!
When someone screams at me!