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

[FightingLily]

When I am triggered and become anxious, I avoid being touched, hugged, etc until I am calm and focused again... I was wondering if others were the same.

 

[reallydown]

I voted for the option "No. I avoid being touched when triggered." However, I tend to not want physical affection even when not triggered...unless I'm getitng a hug from mom or dad or my sister...Not too big on hugging other people etc.

 

[2quilt]

I put other because when triggered, I want to get in bed with my husband and let him hold me. I feel protected. My cats also sense that I need them, and they hover too.
That's physical affection, but it's not sexual.

 

[Lisa]

Absolutely not! I actually feel violent if anyone gets near me.

 

[kers]

I never like to be touched, and when I'm triggered it makes me much worse.

 

[Marlene]

My husband and daughters are the only ones who can touch me when I'm feeling triggered. There are times I want my husband to wrap his arms around me so I feel protected and safe. Maybe because so many times in the past I felt alone and afraid.

But like 2quilt said, it's nothing sexual.
Lisa

 

[becvan]

I voted no I hate it and it makes me worse. I have a hard time with touch on a good day never mind when I'm in the throes of a trigger. I can't even stand my dog touching me when I'm like that.

bec

 

[SweetpinNH]

I like my husband to hold me when I'm anxious. He's the only one I will let touch me. I do feel very safe when he is holding me.

 

[Lucky Laser]

I want affection when I'm feeling triggered. Inside of me, the frightened little girl wants nothing more than to be held. But the current version of me lashes out and attacks, like a wounded animal, anyone who gets close. When I feel that rage coming on I warn my husband to please get away because I won't be able to control it... and sometimes he'll ignore my warning and just hold me tight while I thrash at him, singing to me until I come back to reality.

We've talked about it and he knows that's what I really want even if it doesn't seem like it at first. After I've calmed down he just holds me until I feel safe and its such a wonderful feeling. He knows what he's in for if he comes close to me when I rage; he knows he is allowed to walk away and I wouldn't hold it against him, but most of the time he accepts me like that and that's just one of the reasons I work so hard to get better.

 

[sassy-snape]

I hate affection from anyone BUT my boyfriend, i want constant attention and affection from him, even in public or round friends i sit on him with my arms round him, but so is he so we are very well suited.

i have no problems with sexual affection with him either, i dont feel any shame, embarrassement or shyness at all. we have a very good sex life. 7 times in 5 days this week, but its always through me

 

[gentlelady]

It actually depends on who is trying to do the touching during a trigger time. There are some I could tolerate it from, but others I would lose it I am afraid. I try to stay away from people when i become triggered if at all possible.

 

[Dylan]

I voted, "No. I hate being touched and it makes me worse".

But I think that I just think it makes me worse. Once, in this past really bad spin, my therapist touched my shoulder on the way out and I didn't even startle...I actually relaxed a little bit.

So I think because of the physical violence in my past I still think that I believe (ok, I know that sounds like doublethink!) that it is bad, but that may
be changing, actually.

Thanks for this poll...I have always felt rather "other" with regard to touch... I keep being surprised at how many odd things that I thought were just me being strange really are PTSD related.

-Dylan