Some are biological. For example if I don't get proper sleep or if I don't have enough to eat in they day. Both can trigger me.

Another big trigger for me is if my routine gets mixed up. I do things as close to the same way every day. If that changes, I really struggle all day. I like to do things in certain ways and the same way every time. This keeps me on level ground and feeling steady. When I have to have a permanent routine change, that really screws me up for a long time. It's taken me 2.5 years to feel getting my son ready for school in the morning is part of my routine.

Now, "button pusher" triggers are things (and yes, these are normal things that bug other people, too.) like... I hate to feel left out on purpose. I hate that. It is something that happened to me a lot growing up, so if I feel purposefully left out, I will have a panic attack. I don't like to be laughed at. If I think people I trust are making jokes about me, I freak out. I don't like being told I'm lying, because I'm not a lying type of person, and this drives me crazy. I also don't like it to be brushed off or made to feel like my experience or feelings don't count or are invalid or fake.

Now, I have some triggers that may not make sense. Like, I hate being asked for directions. The sound of the phone ringing is like nails on a chalk board to me (but I answer phones for a living, so that's awesome...,) loud noises that are repetitive or beeping noises. Flashing lights also are not good for me. I can't handle a strobe light, it makes me shut down.

My biggest trigger, though, tends to be stuff dealing with my mom who passed away. It depends on the day and how I handle that, and what the topic is. And certain songs I avoid like the plague. Also movies or shows about people dying of cancer, especially moms and kids, I can't watch them. One of my favorite shows this year, The Parenthood, I can't watch it because a lady has breast cancer on there, and she happens to be my favorite character and a mom.... So, now way, can't watch it.