Poll While Triggered/Anxious - Can You Tolerate Physical Affection?

[jeapea]

I love inviting people into my personal space. But i hate it if they come into it on their own. I need to control that.

When I'm triggered I need to isolate. I need to regroup. Get back in control of myself so I can know where i am and who I can trust again....

 

[silkworm]

i can tolerate it yes, depending on who it is. if it's a trusted friend who knows things then at times i'm ok with hugs/ whatever and it can help (although it's hard to know in advance). if it's anyone else then no way because it's likely to make things alot worse due to feeling unsafe.

 

[LovinHim]

No way, if I'm having one of my episodes leave me the heck alone. Don't talk to me, don't touch me and if you know what's good for you, you'll stay the heck out of my way till I calm myself down.

 

[satara]

I had to put other--for there has been a change in me or maybe my environment.

My first half of my life, I really didn't want to be touched by anyone, including my husband. I felt from my upbringing, I really didn't have a choice but to let him touch me so I made that exception. But even that was not enough when my triggers were out. I would push him away with all the strength I had.

Now with my new partner, it is different. i love him holding me when I feel unsafe. I many times sleep in his arms at night. Something I NEVER did before.
He struggles to understand that when things are bad for me I just want him to hold me. He thinks he should be doing something to make it better, and all I ask is for him to hold me.

strange huh?
lol laughing at myself and the change in me.

 

[DrDanger1979]

Depends on Person

I do not want to be around men, especially those I know well, when triggered. Strong violent emotions can erupt. On the other hand, I want to be held by a woman, but not my wife. I am very protective of women, especially those I feel responsible for, and for some strange reason I cannot feel protected by my wife.

 

[usmc9911]

I voted NO When I am triggrered I feel no compassion for anyone, I think that is one of the worst parts I hate the fact that I can look at my wife and kids and feel absolutely nothing. In addition I don't know if it is a combination of the disorder and the Medication but being sexually intimate when I am triggered is pretty much out of the question.

 

[BlankCanvas]

I will only let a select few people come near me when I'm triggered. At this point, only my Mom and my exboyfriend. Although, sometimes it gets to the point that I don't want them to touch me either.

 

[sheistheocean]

Touching makes me feel like im not human

it makes me feel like an object. the only thing im here for. for people to touch me. i hate it. so much. whenever my ex touched me i would feel like shit cos id think thats all he ever wanted.

and i feel so bad. he's a wonderful person.

 

[disenchanted]

I've got a BIG comfort zone, don't like anyone being in it and I don't like being touched or hugged by anyone. My Mom and sister are not the hugging types anyway so I get away with a lot of physical space.

My dad's family are big huggers especailly at hello and goodbye. This was very, very hard for me and I avoided it. I was nine when I met them, they didn't understand, and I think they took it personally. I never got over it and they still don't understand. I avoid them.

I don't like being touched by strangers either and avoid things like hair cuts etc.

So, triggered or not, I don't like being hugged or held or touched or stood next to. When I am in a line I stand sideways. I nearly decked a girl in a bar bathroom who tucked the tag into my sweater while I was washing my hands. She backed away fast. I'm not a hitter, but the look on my face scared her. That scares me.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I generally can't tolerate physical attention at all. Its especially bad when I am triggered.

Its hard to explain why to people who don't understand...to them, I just seem so cold and they ultimately end up feeling rejected. Its why I'm not in a relationship right now, and not looking for one any time soon.

 

[Lionheart]

Not if I am angry, only if I am simply afraid or anxious.
~Lewie~

 

[mocum99]

My PTSD is not triggered by touching/invasive issues, but when I am very worked up and anxious, if someone offers to comfort me by hugging me, I just can't do it. I feel almost electrically charged as if I will explode if someone touched me! I try to keep my wits about me and let the person know that it's not about them, and then I just try to take some deep breaths and get myself into the headspace for a comforting hug, and then I can normally let them in and their hug can help- as long as I have worked my head into a space to accept the person's hug. I hate to push someone away when they are offering help, and this is something that has only started since the accident which caused my PTSD. I could never figure out what was going on when this happened and it was sort of comforting to see this as a question on the site, to know that I am not alone in this feeling. Thanks.