Triggers- what do your feel like?

I always thought since recently that the only time I felt triggered was from a body memory from seeing, hearing, reading something that I could relate to but didn't realize it etc.

Now most recently I've had an expierence that I wrote in the general forum about feeling odd that some of you said is likely me being triggered from a book that i've read.

The feelings I felt were:

Disconnected
Stoned
Weird
Strange
fried (in the head feeling)

Amoung other similar feelings.

For me what I feel depends on the trigger.

Some just make me feel uncomfortable. Like being in crowds the whole time Im in a crowded store or on a crowded bus I feel closed in and want nothing moe than to get out of there.

Other triggers I get more panicy where I cant breath, heart races and so on.

other things make me want to go into my tunnel area where I feel floaty and far away in a way it kind of feels like when I have taken benedryl and Im in that zoney Im almost asleep but floting and watching from a distance.

Then there are other triggers where I don't stop and float in my tunnel area I go completely into my la la land (mental safe place) where the only thing I see, hear and so on is the music in la la land, the sky and clouds, grass and tree of la la land, and sometime I look around for the musics starting point and theres my favorite singers.

Thanks myself....

Is there any good information site on triggers, the different types that anyone knows about?

About a week or two ago my boyfriend and I went to a crowded mall, big mistake. One minute I was fine, then as the mall got more crowded I suddenly felt extremely depressed, I actually though about comitting suicide, and about 5 minutes later I found myself having a panic attack in the bathroom. Thankfully we both were getting tired so we left the mall, I started bawling my eyes out and within 10 minutes it was like my brain completely forgot what happened and evferything was back to normal. What a weird hour that was. I haven't had a panic attack since then.

<font color="blue"> Don't get me wrong, what you are listing is not pleasant. HOWEVER from what I am reading you are pretty much describing ANXIETY or PANIC ATTACKS and NOT TRIGGERS of PTSD.

Since this is posted in PTSD I will refer to that, if that's ok.

Something that triggers you in your PTSD causes you to flashback in some way... to frightening thoughts, visual memories...of the trauma you experienced. The trigger and the response will depend upon your own trauma and response. Someone who was mugged, might have anxiety about going out alone, but might be triggered if they return to where they were mugged...and experience the event all over again as though it were happening again at the time.

Someone who nearly drowned would be anxious about going to the beach with a group of friends, but if they went, could have an anxiety attack fearing they might drown if they go into the water. But seeing the water might trigger them to a flashback, where they are once again drowning (even though they are standing on the beach.)

Does this help you understand the difference at all?

If you realize you have had a flashback from being triggered you can subsequently an anxiety attack; the two are separate happenings.

Sundance, what I read from your thread beginning post, where you zone out (dissociate, numb) that does sound like you were triggered with a memory of trauma, imo. I would recount where you were, smells, sights, sounds, thoughts... and see if you can decide what it was that triggered you. TC!

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Your welcome and not that I know of for spcific trigger.
The way my therapists over the years explained it to me is that "triggers" is anything that upsets you. For example If a person was abused and during the absue they had a green ballon and the ballon popped. from that day on every time that person saw a green balloon or head a "pop" of a balloon the person would get upset because it consciously or unconsciously reminds the person of the abuse situation they went through in the past.

Everyone has different things that make them upset for example I get scared and so on around snakes but yet I have a friend that can walk around with a snake draped around her neck all day with no problems at all. Being cold irritates me but yet one of my friends love going to the moutains to ski and so on.

Because everyones triggers are different based on their own life experiences and abuse and so on it's impossible to male a complete general list of triggers.anything and everything is a trigger for someone at any time.

But each person can pay attention to the things that upset them, make them uncomfortable and keep a list of their own specific triggers.

There are lots of books and websites out there that teach how to take care of yourself when you are triggered - for example grounding techniques, relaxation techniques.

To find information on how to take care of yourself with triggers you can look in any book that is about PTSD, Sexual abuse, Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, and so on. In fact you will find some books in the resourse thread located at the top of t he Dissociative Disorders message board like -

The PTSD Workbook
The Depression Workbook
The Anxiety Workbook
The courage to heal text
The Courage to heal workbook
The Relaxation &amp; Stress Reduction Workbook
Getting Through the Day
Recreating Yourself

There are also websites listed in that resourse thread that can help you learn grounding and relaxation techniques to take care of you and your triggers.

Sky.

I've dealt with anxiety for over 10+ yrs and panic, so I definatly know the difference between the two feelings with my triggers verses anxiety, both not fun feelings at all.... Both I'd rather not feel at all... But you can definatly feel anxiety while being triggered is that what you mean?

Not all flashbacks you need to see anything visual, you can feel it as well... body memories I learned awhile back are flashbacks....triggered by a memory etc that you either read about, feel, smell etc. Those are what i'm triggered by i rarely get a visual flashback I think I have maybe once.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
If you realize you have had a flashback from being triggered you can subsequently an anxiety attack; the two are separate happenings.

Sundance, what I read from your thread beginning post, where you zone out (dissociate, numb) that does sound like you were triggered with a memory of trauma, imo. I would recount where you were, smells, sights, sounds, thoughts... and see if you can decide what it was that triggered you. TC!

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Thanks Sky... I never thought that I'd dissociate, I don't think i've ever had that happen before. I felt out of it, almost disconnected, felt weird. Is that what it is?

I know where it happened exactly when it occured. I was sitting on the couch reading that book I talked about in the other thread. I had cherries and can of coke on the table, I was laying on the couch. The smells weren't anything new, smells rarely trigger me unless it's a colgone smell.

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myself said:
Your welcome and not that I know of for spcific trigger.
The way my therapists over the years explained it to me is that "triggers" is anything that upsets you. For example If a person was abused and during the absue they had a green ballon and the ballon popped. from that day on every time that person saw a green balloon or head a "pop" of a balloon the person would get upset because it consciously or unconsciously reminds the person of the abuse situation they went through in the past.

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Thanks myself.

I have certain things, like having my arms pinned down, or grabbed at the wrists, that's my worse trigger, and the smell of coglone <SP> whether I see a movie that involves any type of abuse or assault will trigger me, even reading about it etc that's why I need to be careful sometimes when my mood is low to come into these forums and read posts.

I know some stuuff on grounding tecniques, but never thought i'd need them, never learned them either.

I have the anxiety workbook here I'll look stuff up in the index, and I have a 2 books on trauma and body memories that describe triggers etc, maybe that'll help.

Thank for for your responses guys it means alot.

Yes, sundance when you step back out of full reality (so to speak) you are dissociating... derealization, depersonalization... all coping mechanisms. BTW we sticky posted Grounding Techniques at the top of this forum in PTSD. They are good for both anxiety attacks and flashbacks. I was sure you knew, sundance, the difference

Everyone dissociates...NO one is ever fully conscious of everything going on.. for that would involve, heart: beat, foot: take step, arm: swing... lungs: breathe... etc... so the processes we are fully aware of happening, we usually dissociate FROM... and focus on other events. It's often that we dissociate FROM other events: when we drive... our mind goes to the song on the radio...and dissociate from where we are on the road, and miss our turn.

It's good that you were able to identify that you were triggered, and notice also how you felt different. (When I was first injured and flashbacking, I had NO memory of it. It took years and hard work in therapy to even get to where I now USUALLY know when I have been triggered and flashedback.) I'm working on avoiding some triggers.. and on managing others so I don't go on to a flashback.

IMO the "breath" is the most important grounding focus we can do. This works for both anxiety and triggers. When we begin to be fearful, we as human beings tend to hold our breath. This makes our body feel worse! It also prevents us from having capability to physically move out of the situation. If you can work on noticing your breath... and tell yourself breathe deeply.... hold it a few seconds and release it slowly... not only does it give your brain something to focus on rather than the trigger..but keeps you from hyperventilating. TC!!!! It's a skill you will use forever!!!

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Some of those are my triggers too. Hang in there.

Thank you _sky...&lt;3