Has anyone had this weird experience?

Yesterday, I was walking home and I overheard a loud talking person saying disturbing things and insulting herself a lot. Since it was a quiet night and she was so loud, I felt stuck listening to her even though I noticeably started feeling angry and sad due to the things she was saying and that I was overhearing.

By the time I got home, I experienced some weird symptoms or something. I felt very upset, couldn't concentrate on much, could not accomplish small tasks like writing a letter which usually come easy to me, and had trouble feeling other emotions besides anger and sadness.

This has happened before and I did take it to a counselor who said something about "triggered" and "trauma."

Has anyone experienced anything like this, and if so, do you have any more specific and detailed ideas about what could be going on and how to cope?

First of all, we have all moments that knock us off our regular routine like this, right? 911, school shootings etc? Since you are a trauma survivor I'm assuming, it sounds like you need education on how trauma effects a person. I would say journal your experiences, research some, then ask your counselor.

I too have heard something that triggered what i experienced. I was watching a film at work one day and it triggered my brothers death to me. These things happen. You just have to get the skills with how to handle the emotions it brings up and what to do with them. I agree, journaling and sharing with a counselor is good advice. tc.

Hi Joe,

I have experienced this and I do have specific detailed ideas about what is going on and what to do about it:

http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB/BA.pdf

- vital