triggers!

[chlo 4]

Im finding it harder and harder to deal with triggers, even the littlest thing, a word, anything that's kind of related triggers me. I hate it and I don't know how to deal with it I feel like triggers are happening more often and I don't know what to do, how do you deal with them?

[chlo 4]

why cant I deal with triggers?! ive been up all night, not slept because I was triggered!

[Gilly 1086]

chlo we all struggle with triggers, one thing that has helped me is to acknowledge it is a trigger, how badly a trigger affects you is defined by how well you are doing at the time. If you get triggered easily and often then that is a sign you are not doing too well with what has caused your anxiety. A trigger can be one of 2 things, a word or phrase that reminds you of your trauma or fear, or it can be something innocuous but it releases a build up of intense anxiety.

 

Best way to handle being triggered is to acknowledge what it is, writing helps, write how it affected you and look at that logically, it is easier to see the logic when it is written down than trying to think yourself through it.

[chlo 4]

yeah I do get triggered quite a lot, few times every day. not sure if that more than normal or not. it sees like the longer everything is going on it gets worse, like everyday theres more triggers, but I noticed I tend to think about them a lot, even when the trigger isn't necessarily there through the 'what if' thoughts.

 

so do you mean, think about a trigger and write down how it cant hurt me and just bad memory stuff like that? and do I have to write what the trigger is, cause one of the biggest triggers is a word and I cant even say it or write it. I did some poems last night actually, not about triggers, well kind of was I guess they were about what happened, never seen myself in such a mess since it happened, maybe too much all at once im not sure.

[Gilly 1086]

Yes, write it down so that you know it can't hurt you, if you can't write the word write **** it doesn't matter. At some point though you need to expose yourself as a form of therapy, I mean to the words, then they lose the ability to trigger you. 

[chlo 4]

how do I do that? expose myself to the words?

[jonathan123 2368]

I think what Gilly is saying is better out than in. If you express yourself in some way; by writing things down; talking to people; having a rant you get rid of a lot of the energy that causes anxiety. With journals you can always go back and look at your progress. But the thing is to DO SOMETHING and not dwell on the negative. Self pity is destructive. It lowers your desire to get well. Exposing yourself to 'triggers' that cause you a problem, though painful, can be the answer. To keep avoiding words because thay may trigger an episode is not helpful. As Gilly says, if you cant write the word put ****** then carry on including it in the sentance you are writing. Then go back and write one letter of the word then carry on with the writing. Do this as often as you can until the word means less anxiety to you. Are you any good at art or sketching? This often helps to take your mind off yourself. At least for a while. You need to do something positive to get your mind away from the thoughts you seem to get about the past. Not easy chlo, but it can be done. You say the longer it goes on the worse it gets. It will if you dwell on it. You need distraction. Give something, anything, a try.     Jon.

[chlo 4]

thanks jon, I never realised before that anxiety is cased by energy, and what you said there really made sense to me. I started doing a journal, but rather than focusing on things widely, like the whole day I focused on one aspect of the day, cleaning. I found looking at it wrote down made me worse I realised how bad things were so had to stop writing it. guess like you say avoiding it. I did draw a lot before anxiety and depression ect but that was all stop, I have recently been trying to get back into it as a friend suggested it but I find it hard to concentrate on th drawings, I will keep on trying though, thanks. I went to see the woman from the adult mental health team again this afternoon. i'm off out now, but will explain a bit about what happened on here later, thanks again.

[jonathan123 2368]

Oh yes, chlo. Energy is at the root of all human activity. But MISPLACED energy, which is what anxiety is, can cause havoc, as you know.

Have you ever noticed that if you get one physical symptom then the others seem to fade until that one goes then you get another elsewhere? Energy is always there. It has to be to live. But out of control it can become a major liability. DIRECTED energy is what makes the world go round. Good energy from good people is a life saver but mis-directed energy in anxiety is not. Lets get this clear. Anxiety is not caused by positive energy. It is caused by negative energy. Your mind gives out negative thoughts which create negative energy which causes anxiety. See what I mean?   Hope all goes well with your health team.     Jon.

[chlo 4]

I guess that does make sense.

 

yeah, the appointment went really well actually. she said they don't normally do it, but shes gonna do a extended assessment where she assesses me over  number of appointments. she said she knows I wont be able to talk to her much, until I get to know her, so this time we just talked about family tree and history (minus the hard stuff) for her to start building up a picture. next time I think we are gonna talk about panic attacks and how to control them. she said shes gonna constantly watch my body language and push a little harder but then back off to make it easier for me. like today she was jumping from negative to positive things to try make iteasier. she explained a bit about what happens in the brain with ptsd, but I didn't reallytake that in. and at the end she got my mum in and asked what she knew about ptsd and then explain to her about what happens in the brain with ptsd to help her understand too. she said she doesn't think in on the right medication, or at least the right dose, so gonna talk about me in the team meeting again on Wednesday and try sort something out, but said might not have medication change till after Christmas, and said she will try do it so I don't need to see a consultant (possibly not consultant might ave been something else but cant remember) but if I have to she said theres another one in the team that is female and said the one that im under wont mind her seeing me as they will understand why. im actually really pleased with how things are going so far. I went in dead nervous thinking I was gonna have to talk about everything again. I see her again on the 23rd.

[jonathan123 2368]

WONDERFUL clho. Sounds as if you have a good bunch of therapists there. And that is sure some headway if you are pleased with how things are going. The 23rd. is not long so if you have any questions for them write them down in case you forget. They will be only too pleased to know you are trying to help yourself.  For the first time in a long time I really feel you are adopting a more positive attitude. Keep it up chlo. Bless you and good luck.   Jon.

[chlo 4]

thanks, wish I could say the same thing this morning! I just wish people would understand and not make everything worse for me!