[Mogeii]

Just wanted to see how many people would respond with their list of triggers. Be as broad as specific as you want. Probably been done before but I haven't read it . Also a good way to see how alike/different we all are, which are both good oddly haha. Before my list examples can be specific events, broad issues like health anxiety or relationship problems, or common stuff like caffeine or driving on the highway.

Mine are:
Anxiety- that's right, I am anxious about being anxious haha. Definitely the most problematic being a self sustaining cycle and all.

Depression- Thinking about falling back into depression brings me anxiety, but that's become more of a fear of me making bad mental decisions than some uncontrollable chemical problem in my brain. But hey i still get worked up over it sometimes.

Indigestion- Don't know why, its not a heart related fear, I just relate indigestion to the body being "upset" and my brain runs with it.

Nausea- Same as Indigestion I suppose

Headaches- Never had a headache I can remember before I had anxiety problems. So obviously now I can't unrelate them as much as I probably should.

Boredom- When i'm bored I like to look for problems to solve, but not constructive ones like cleaning or finding a job, more along the lines of trying to "fix" my brain. When im feeling good I am aware that trying to fix an anxious brain is like trying to fix an upset child... they aren't broken they just need to be taught lol. Sigh if we only stay clear during the hard times.

My parents- perhaps not the common reason people would think of with parent anxiety. My problem is im always wondering how bad I need to feel before i let them know, since last year I really wasn't fair to them and maintained I was fine until I was so depressed/anxious I had become suicidal. Now I don't want to worry them but I don't want to put them in that situation ever again.

Mornings- Who in the blue hell knows why but if I wake up even mildly uncomfortable for ANY reason I begin to get anxious until around midday when it falls way. Stupid, pointless, annoying.

AAAND FINALLY: Pissing off my roommate- Best friend since we were 3, roommate, and the only person who I have no mental relationship between anxiety/depression and him for some reason. I moved out for 3 months last year during the bad times and he checked up on me etc but we didn't hang out until I was getting better and because of that talking to him or just hanging out with him takes my mind off my own bull. The few times we have been at odds though, I get anxious as all hell.

Feel free to be shorter than mine, im self helping by ranting a bit too in this post. But I am really interested in other people's triggers. BTW Chest pain of any kind used to be one of mine, but for some reason that is no more. I kinda went thru a phase saying "If its a heart attack than kill me, if not than leave me alone" and since then not a problem. Weird.

[gimmeice]

I will try to list my triggers but like me they always seem to be changing.

My brother in law- he is one of my bosses at work and is always the one that comes to me if there is a problem so I guess I equate him with problems. lol that is kinda sad cause he is a really nice guy.

hospitals- I have a few different traumas involving hospitals so I am not sure I can ever feel completely comfortable in one.

loud children- this is a major disadvantage for me since I have 5 kids.

surprise parties, even if they arent really a surprise to me- I am really not sure about this one but a few months ago my husband planned a surprise party for my graduation from college but some things came up and he had to tell me about the plans. The whole thing made me feel anxious.

[dillpickle1983]

I have some triggers that are everyday.

Sirens = make me very anxious and it doesn't help I live 2 blocks from a trauma center.

Loud Children = screaming children really send me over the edge of anxiety and its something I relate to in my childhood.

Ignorant People = those that cannot understand or wish not to understand.

Hospitals = (psych units) I've been hospitalized 6 times since February and each time they seem to get worse and worse. I haven't really had a traumatic experience at one yet but I am dreading the day it happens and that dreading is a trigger for me.

Boredom = Being bored is bad for me. I usually try to fix my brain by taking meds wrongly or just to experiment with different med combos. This is how I usually end up "incarcerated" at the hospital. (I'm currently bored and I am trying not to revert to my past ways)

Urban Music = blasting from hoopdies driving up and down the street. Makes me feel like some gangsta is gonna come hurt me making me very anxious.

Doctors = that can't speak English. Nuff said.

[Odee]

Any situation in which I feel stuck and cannot escape -- this has largely been my issue with attending class, as I feel 'stuck' and then 'helpless.'

Getting car sick has been a really bad one for me in the past -- before I started having major anxiety issues and just had little attacks a couple times a year through out my adolescence (didn't know what they were), I would often become intensely 'car sick.' I know now that the spiral begins with me feeling a little nauseous, then restless, and then the discomfort and the fear that I won't escape the discomfort soon escalates into feeling very hopeless and very sick.

Saying the wrong thing to someone and being afraid that they're angry.

Lots of people and noise. This spring I went through a very bad period where just about any sudden noise in the house (someone suddenly speaking, a door open, hearing people enter, TELEPHONE!) would startle me in a such a way I would feel a wave of heat and prickling sensation wash over me. Te feeling would linger and if I kept getting startled it could build up until it was really bad.

[tigerlily84]

Migraines - I didn't start having them until August of this year. Still don't know why, or what my triggers are. And I get them fairly often. Lots of anxiety here, so it makes me worried about my health.

Depression - or at least, falling back into another really bad episode. I'm terrified of being back in that place again because I don't know if I'll be strong enough to fight it a second time.

Getting close to people, including friends and SOs. I will pull away bc I feel trapped.

People yelling at me. Doesn't help that I have a customer service job. I have had panic attacks because of it.

[Mindinpieces]

Triggers for me

Certain topics of conversation like one’s where they can pick up too much info on me and start to see the cracks that I am not a well-rounded person like they are. This generally leads to anxiety of they will find out or wonder why and then find out about me, my past. Usually any topic of interest outside of work or how you know those people, jobs, and generally what do you do with your life? I may be just a bit paranoid as well. But it always gets me because I can’t ever just turn around and go I get anxiety and gave up on humans long ago, I generally prefer not to be involved and like to be left alone so I can keep some sanity and just get on with my life in the only way possible, but that’s never an option. So I come across as nervous as hell and someone that’s got something to hide, so yes conversations in which people get info on me triggers the hell out of me every time.

Certain places depending on the environment of that place eg busy shops big trigger, anywhere that is busy, too much traffic, certain times of day only makes certain places go able and not as bad as a trigger. Any place of uncertainty of the outcome or environment like how things will pan out or having to go to a place like an interview and not really knowing where you are going and what’s going or happen or you can’t be sure as to how or when this or that is going to happen. Eg not sure how long it is going to last, not really sure how you’re going to get back once it is finished as you can’t be sure on times etc.

Certain days and months of the year trigger me if I was significantly trigger before at that time in the past, it is like it has left an mark on me and I will always get noticeability triggered at the same time each year even if the next year there is no reason to be trigger at that time, just the fact that once before it happened at that time badly it can be enough to offset me the next year just because.

Certain people, this is bad but they know too much about me and I just can’t be around them or stuff has happened between us and because of that it make’s it unbearable to be around them because we trigger each other.

[laughawaythehurt]

When I get sick- I imagine all kinds of other bad illnesses
Driving alone- scared to pull over and scared to keep going
Screaming kids-this is new I think my nerves are shot!! LOL

[bluegirl...?]

Everything.

Anything and everything triggers me. I can be having a good day then BAM! All the thoughts start flooding my mind and i just cant ever stop it. I think of all the reasons i hate myself and why i hate my parents and why i wish i died and all the panic and anxiety sets in.

It isnt any one thing that triggers me, its like everything.

...Blue

[shortandcute]

Let's see.......
My oldest sister whining all the time. She is always so negative. She likes playing the martyr, because she wants everyone to think of her as the family "Mother Teresa," but then whines and complains about how everyone is "putting her out." That triggers me because I know she wants me to offer to rescue her because I've done that before, but I ended up in debt over it and can no longer afford to do that.

My daughter's panic attacks. She panics alot about stuff and sometimes takes it out on me (she's getting better, tho).

Not knowing where my son is at all times.....He's 24 but still lives at home. I don't want to be hovering over him because he is an adult, but if he ends spending the nite or weekend with his friends and doesnt tell me, I get panicked.

A friend I know from AA.....on one hand she is the sweetest kindest person I know. But she also has a sever case of PTSD, and some major anger issues, and often goes off into these tangents, becomes easily angered and and really has these tantrums.

People getting on my case for taking meds...OOOOHHHH THAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!

There are alot more but I don't want to take up too much space.

[Miss Laura]

Crowds- Especially in Town (Christmas shoppers, Christmas light night whole town goes to that)

Public Transport- More so Buses (too crowded and too loud... I use my I-Pod a lot when I am on buses)

Dogs- Petrified of Dogs always have been (more so if they are off their leads)

New Sitautions- Anything that is new to me (joining Choir, Attending Badminton etc)

Appointments- Most appointments are scary (mainly if I have never met the professional etc before)

Nights Out- Always happens I get severly anxious and have a complete melt down. I am fine once I get there though

Going Out- This is constant whenever I have to leave the house I am always anxious

Meeting new people- its just scary full stop lol!

Performing in front of others- I have sever stage fright ironic as I am in a choir lol! But I suffer from sever shaking

I try my hardest to not let all my anxieties affect my life so I throw myself into situation where I know I will be highly anxious 9/10 times I am ok but you always have that side to you that gets a bit too ott for you to calm down

[LadyShadow]

Being in a certain room - Like sometimes my own room feels like it is stifling me. When I was at work the office felt like the walls were bearing down on me closing me in. I comes out of nowhere.

Loud Noises - The storms we had really scared me, I went scouring to the basement.

Crowds - I get closed in and trapped so easily in them

Loud children/crying babies - makes me really anxious and uncomfortable

Here's A Short List of The Most Predominate Ones ...

- Loud Noises
- Tight Spaces
- Large Crowds
- Only One Avenue Of Escape
- Birthdays / Anniversaries / Holidays

not even i know all mine (as their keep coming up more and more) so adding to the list all the time

but some of mine are:

fire

my parents

screaming children (notice a lot of people said that one)

dentists

insects

any mention of colledge/ school

again.. any mention of employments, or jobs, etc

the movie marley and me

heat (like from a heating system)

people telling me how good their lives are

banging sounds

mentions of anything to do with space (don't ask)

sounds of screaming

and loads, loads, loads more... i'd be here all day

Let me see......

Meeting new people.
Getting on buses.
Going to any meetings.
Every time I go and see my Therapist.
Crowds.
Nights out (I don't do them anymore)
Waiting rooms
Queues.
shops that are crowded.

Mine are:

Nausea,
Pain,
Crowds,
Smells,
Lights,
Certain noises,
Hospitals,
Dentists,
Abrupt acceleration,
Planes,
Confined spaces I cannot easily exit, &
Amusement parks.

[wheeliegurl]

I suppose my anxieties are surrounding possible cognitive things, anyway, here goes;

-I consider myself fiercely independant most of the time, if anything, pretty stubborn. I see this in a good light most of the time, and am proud. But part of me feels anxious when asking for help, or assistance, will they help?...will i get messed about?...invasion of privacy? etc.

- Anxieties around my cognitive shortfalls. I have stm loss, as a result of having a vp shunt put in when i was nine due to hydrocephalus. My executive functions are not great due to this. But also peoples ignorance toward this. People have immediately assumed my ability to have a career, education etc, and generalise about my actual intelligence. They dont seem to realise that i have had these problems since youth, and probably just needing ways to get around it again, as i find it slightly worsening atm. Also anxieties around keeping myself organised, budgets, appts, etc.

- In summary to that, rude, arrogant, narsisstic people. Also people, workers etc that i have had contact with, who just make run of the mill assumptions about my life, oh and rumours, but dont actually have the balls (lol) to face me with said rumours. Makes me angry, but i laugh it off anyway :P. Sorry about the slight bit of language, i am outspoken after all...doubt that will change :P

[AngelWolf3]

Some of the ones I can think of immediately are:

Scary Halloween masks
Any immediate loud noise that sounds like a gunshot sets me off, I bawl like a baby.
Caffeine (I just tell people I am allergic, it's easier)
Elevators
Groups of people/crowds (I feel like I am trapped and I can't breathe)
Hospitals (the smell reminds me of the times I was inpatient for MH issues/ED)
Airplanes
Car trips if I am not the one driving
Weird pains in my body (I start thinking it's my heart, or my appendix, or something terrible but I am not a hypochondriac, I just think something bad is gonna happen...)
Pools (because of the whole bathing suit thing...so exposed!)
Family gatherings
Getting yelled at or even people yelling in general (doesn't have to be at me)

I am sure there is more, but I don't want to have a list a foot long...

[Mogeii]

Wow lots of responses thanks guys! First off I really like how, like I said in the original post, we are all so different but have common threads connecting us! Health anxiety in general is a pain, and I think most people posted at least something about that. It's weird for me because I am not a hypochondriac. For instance if my chest hurts I don't feel im having a heart attack, but I go down the road of chest pain is caused by and can cause anxiety, and therefore I must be anxious now. Silly logic but its one of my problems. So health anxiety we seem to be mostly all on the same page . The one that struck me is everyone saying loud children. I am not around kids a lot, dont have any of my own, but I can see the stress they would cause. As far as loud kids go though, if i'm not already in an anxious state I don't feel they would trigger me. Not discounting those of you who said it though lol, a screaming child in your home or in a waiting room is certainly fuel for annoyance and anxiety.

Wolfin3 you posted Caffeine, which is great that you dont take any. I wonder why you have to say you are allergic, I just tell people caffeine is bad for you... which it is... and they either roll their eyes and leave me alone about it or agree and say "I wish I could stop drinking coffee." I saw 1 or 2 others besides me say nausea, good cause that one is such a nuisance for me. About 8 months ago when I was doing quite a bit worse than now I woke up DAILY with nausea that lasted 2 hours almost to the exact minute. I got so frustrated that I told me therapist that I wish i was pregnant to explain this morning sickness crap...btw I am a guy lol. It was just so causeless and aggravating to my mood. All I can say is, pepto helps, but the nausea never fails to start a minor mood switch into anxiety or even depressive feelings. Good news is the moods rarely last too long.

Last one I wanted to mention, Didgee (and maybe someone else forgive me if I don't name you) said planes. Get this, being in and flying in the planes doesn't bother me at all. I feel safe, secure, and often even a bit up in my mood cause something about going long distances in a few hours still amazes me lol. HOWEVER, prior to boarding, I am an anxious wreck in airports. It's not the TSA crap, not the crowds, its that energy in the air that is filled with tired people, anxious people, people in a hurry, and the general grossness of the food and atmosphere of airports. For instance flying from Orlando to Newark we had a stop in Atlanta airport. The plane rides from Orlando, Atlanta, Newark, and back, all fine. The 3 hour delay we had in Atlanta drove me to finding a bench and curling up with my eyes closed to pretend like I was napping when in reality I was trying to imagine I was somewhere else because I felt so anxious and gross.

Thanks again for the responses guys! Anyone else feel free to join in!

[pngindreamr]

Really a lot does but here are the main things:

Crowds--especially in smaller areas, I can handle them in wide open places but when I get confined, I start to sweat and feel trapped.
Embarrassment--anything big or small and especially in front of a lot of people.
New social situations--this has been the one thing that has hindered me since I am older, about to graduate college. I really have intense anxiety about doing things without people I know. I do not like going to events where I do not know anyone. So it has kept me out of a lot of social events, clubs and etc. I have a job but I work with someone I knew before the job. I really fear that this will affect me after I graduate. I hope I can overcome it.
"Risky" nights out-- my best friend is very much into nightlife. I enjoy having fun with friends but I find most situations she has found herself in to be horrible to me. I would never want to go out again if I experienced what she had. I fear everything that could go wrong. I like low key nights with friends and my boyfriend, I have been out before and do not see how it is so amazing, it causes me more anxiety than anything.
Future--because the future is unknown, I really get anxious when I think about it. Again I fear my anxiety will cripple me in the real job world. I am trying my best to overcome it now. I hope to find an internship before I graduate. I worry about all of it. That I will not get into graduate school. It all went by so fast. I worry I am not prepared.
Sickness, Death, Disease, weird feelings-- I really worry when I am sick, or have "weird" feelings, I get worried when loved ones are sick. I always fear the worse. If I have a weird feeling I think that something is really wrong with me. Family members always joked that I was a hypochondriac, but I think it is true. I worry about every twitch and tightness or anything that I feel going on. I worry about medications and germs. I also have really severe allergies and I do not know if that causes this fear of "environment".

I have a lot of triggers especially in social situations and anything unknown. I have been improving after working with a counselor, but I have new triggers. It is a process, a journey to relief I hope. And I hope you find that relief as well.

[Big Mama]

Sorry yall. I'm board and lonely. So I'll say what I'm gonna say because it is the truth.

Dentist- Yikes
Dogs- only if it barks
Bologna- It smells like unclean man parts (Rape issues)
Dumpsters/Green boxes X BF used to leave me at a dumpster like a piece of trash for not cooperating, then he'd come back and get me and rape me.
Orange Juice or cranberry juice - I really want to add vodka (but don't any more)
V-8 juice or tomato juice - I want to have a bloody marry (don't do that any more)
Answering machines
Elevators
Stair wells
Being lost
Darkness
Crowds
Being away from home (vacations, weekend trips)
Driving on the interstate beside of tractor trailers
Hights
Closed in spaces

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by shortandcute

Let's see.......
My oldest sister whining all the time. She is always so negative. She likes playing the martyr, because she wants everyone to think of her as the family "Mother Teresa," but then whines and complains about how everyone is "putting her out." That triggers me because I know she wants me to offer to rescue her because I've done that before, but I ended up in debt over it and can no longer afford to do that.

My daughter's panic attacks. She panics alot about stuff and sometimes takes it out on me (she's getting better, tho).

Not knowing where my son is at all times.....He's 24 but still lives at home. I don't want to be hovering over him because he is an adult, but if he ends spending the nite or weekend with his friends and doesnt tell me, I get panicked.

A friend I know from AA.....on one hand she is the sweetest kindest person I know. But she also has a sever case of PTSD, and some major anger issues, and often goes off into these tangents, becomes easily angered and and really has these tantrums.

People getting on my case for taking meds...OOOOHHHH THAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!

There are alot more but I don't want to take up too much space.

I guess I can mention a few more.
Black Friday----I don't like going because of all the chaos and crowds, plus at that time of the month, I'm broke. So I usually don't go, but then my family acts like they're gonna commit suicide if I don't go---but if I do go, they completely ignore me.
Elevators, but only if there is someone I don't know on it also--rape issues
Being treated or talked to as if I were a 2 year old--I don't get that as much as I used to-but I still get it sometimes. You see, I am actually a midget (really!) so I have gotten a lot of people talking to me as if I were a child; and doing things like patting me on the head, and laughing when I get mad, etc. (i am actually on the "tall end" of being a midget--if i were any taller, i would not be considered a midget)
WALMART!!!
Having to be picked up for my appointments--I don't drive because of anxiety issues, and because of my financial situation, I am able to get rides to my mental health appointments at no charge to me. But I always get panicked because I don't know who's going to pick me up (again, rape issues).
CROWDS!

[Vincent52]

• Lack of sleep.
• Leaving the house and feeling exposed.
• Too much attention.
• Knowing I can't concentrate.
• Traffic.
• Upset stomach.
• Being alone too often.
• New situations.
• A break in my patterns.
• Eating.

Ugh. This sucks. Haven't thought about this much, and I sure haven't written it down. Looks messed up and I am now bummed.

• Being bummed.

[sabby]

Well let's see what I come up with.....

Shopping in a crowded store (grocery and especially Wal-mart)

Driving in a city. I get really upset and angry when I get lost in a city. Driving in the country...no problem. If I get lost, I always find my way out and it's much less stressful than the city.

Being late for appointments.

Anyone working on a vehicle and getting pissed off or frustrated - swearing, throwing tools etc. Sends me into a tizzy.

Going to bed/sleep at night. I can nap fine during the day but the idea of going to bed at night for some reason triggers my anxiety. Haven't figured that one out as it's pretty new to me.

When both of my daughters and my grandchildren are with me. Too much chaos and noise, yelling at the kids constantly...uggh.

Going out with friends. I'm invited to something and it sounds great at the time, look forward to it, but when the time comes to go, I get anxious and don't want to go. Sometimes I'll call and beg off, other times I'll make myself go and I end up having a really good time, but getting there is really hard.

Dealing with debts....makes me want to put my head in the sand and I'll ignore it till the very end. *sigh*

Procrastination....I am the best at it and it drives me insane.

[tokiwartooth]

Someone saying that there's something that they need to tell me.
My boss saying that he needs to talk to me.
Someone saying that they have some bad news.
Bad traffic.
Going to a get together where I know hardly anyone.
The dark.
Hearing people outside at night (even tho I live in an apartment complex), because I'm afraid of a break-in.
Not being home because I'm afraid of a break-in, and I'm afraid for my cat.
Having the power go off when it's cold outside.
Seeing the check engine light/any other light come on in my car.
Not hearing from my best friend (because she's a severely depressed alcoholic)
Not hearing from my mom or aunt (because I'm petrified of something happening to them, esp. since my aunt has severe COPD and only 34% usage of her lungs)
Hearing sirens.
Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
My debts.
Money.
Having a deadline for something.
An upcoming test/presentation.

[so_punk_rock]

I think its a great idea to recognize what triggers anxiety. Here are my triggers:

1. Having to keep appointments
2. Thinking about my future
3. people
4. thinking too much
5. Life