Thank you, thank you, thank you, people. Thank you for being here to helping me do what I needed (reach out, speak our truth) and thank you for your responses. Thank you for 'hearing' me!

CassyO, I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with similar issues at work. I hope you and yours find a way to move through it, and separate the past from the present. Thank you for your support.

AmandaLouise, I do use a similar technique as well, and most of the time it works beautifully. I think in this situation the problem was building up over several weeks and I had been using that technique - and others - often to deal with being triggered. In this case the triggers kept piling up on top of each other so that it went beyond my usual repertoire of coping skills, I think. The frustrating thing for me was that I know exactly what we need to do to deal with the situation professionally and responsibly, but I was increasingly unable to act because of the overwhelming internal responses.

AC2, I hear you! Dealing with other people - especially when they act in ways that set off our own personal triggers - can be so very, very challenging! In my own current work situation the woman that we are reacting to seems to have severe unresolved trauma issues of her own. She gets triggered by a multitude of different things (we kinda just discover them when we unknowingly set them off left right and centre) and then her triggered reactions trigger us. Unfortunately for us one of her coping mechanisms is to discredit and destroy the 'enemy' (us, in her triggered mind - but we are really not her enemy). She has many wonderful qualities and a wealth of knowledge and experience, and if we could just find a way to work with each other without setting off our combined minefield of triggers I think we would make a wonderful team!

I also reached out to ex T last night and she too was able to help. I feel so much clearer and un-triggered now.

Again, thank you thank you for listening and responding.