I am wondering if the occurrences below count as triggers of some sort. I'm not super knowledgeable about triggers.
I'm wondering about my anxiety and not the relationship per say because I notice this behavior in myself following other painful experiences in my life as well.
For example, if I was wearing a certain shirt when something bad happens to me, I will dispose of the shirt for fear of feeling a certain negative emotion upon seeing it after the painful event.
More recently, my fiance had an emotional affair that's been over for more than a year now but I experience the following:
1) The woman he cheated with was from a certain country and now hearing the name of the country causes me chest pain.
2)I found out on Google and now I am unable to use my computer for days at a time for fear of flashbacks.
3)Her name started with a certain letter and now I am unable to see the letter without feeling pain.
4) I spend a great deal of time ruminating and/or recalling things about the "discovery" period and feeling psychically ill as a result of ruminations. I'm not sure how to make them stop but it's been over for over a year now and I still think about it every day.
5) If I hear of infidelity I am immediately transported back to my confrontation with her and become anxious.
6) If my fiance is not available for a certain period of time I get panicked.
All of this is alarming to me because it just seems too intense for the event and for the feelings I have for my fiance. While I care for my fiance I am in no way lovesick for him to the point of obsessing over him and his fidelity. I can only imagine that this cheating bought one other instance of cheating (by another ex) and/or my unresolved issues with my father always putting women before me to the surface and this is why I am experiencing this pain.
I am less interested in my relationship and more interested in doing what needs to be done to get out of this private hell.
From what I've written, does it seem that I am being triggered or experiencing some traumatic response?
Last edited by Anonymous35111; Sep 26, 2014 at 05:03 PM.
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