[shinkikker]

Hey all, it's been a while since I've been on here. I'm wondering how everyone deals with triggers that seem to pop up EVERYWHERE.

In my case, it's the recent elementary school massacre. Every time I see something about it I feel this sinking pit in my stomach and I just want to go to sleep forever. There is absolutely no way for me to deal with it and rationalize it. I don't even like the inspirational quotes related to the situation. I can't deal with it.

But, as anyone on the internet knows, coverage from the massacre is EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. It's on every single site I frequent. I can't get away from it, even though I am actively avoiding the subject. I was even at work the other day and a customer started trying to make conversation about it, talking about how awful it was, and I had no idea how to even say anything besides "I have major depression and things like this are huge triggers for me and they make me want to blow my brains out". So I just ignored her, which, obviously, is not something you should do to a customer at work.

Aside from avoiding the trigger, what do you do when it pops up? What can you do?

And if possible, can we focus this thread on the above question and not on the massacre itself? That would just make my whole situation worse, I think : (

[NoCake]

Well honestly I doubt it's possible to avoid triggers like this. We can't control when things like this happen. So the best thing imo is to try and cope. Bad stuff happens a lot but good things happen to. This was a horrible event for sure but you can't just ignore the good things that are going on out there.

[Honey Bee Sunrise]

Maybe you could think out how to answer those people before it comes up again? Maybe something pat that would work in general for those types of situations?

"Yes, that's horrible. That's a nice __(ring, coat, anything!)__ you have on. Where did you get it?"

Most people love to talk about themselves, and everyone loves to be complimented, so maybe you can distract them?

[liveforfish]

Just be honest. When it's brought up in conversation just state it's too painful to talk about or that you can't talk about it.

If it's on the news, change the channel. Read your news vs watching on TV. Things are easier to get through on paper.

On the online sites state you can't discuss that topic.

[Inedible]

Personally I used self-hypnosis. I would practice in advance how I wanted to react to my triggers (dentist phobia, driving lessons). Most of the time is spent on relaxation, and then imagining the situation until anxiety shows up. Then back to relaxation. A few cycles and then leaving it alone, finishing with relaxation. You can get cheap self-hypnosis MP3 sessions online, maybe. Or have your T record a session from a book.

[Corvid]

Honestly? last time there was a school shooting like this, I took a bottle of pills, hallucinated, and ended up in the wards for a while. This time I'm numb, that's all there is too it. I've become numb.