[MotownJohnny]

Some of mine are pretty woo woo out there:

The “pantyhose” I have to wear right now. Actually, it’s just a full-leg compression sock, because I had vein surgery two weeks ago. But, it freaks me out every time I put it on or off, because it reminds me of the pantyhose old pervert dad wore when I was a kid. I have to wear it until next week. Then, I have surgery on the other leg in a few weeks, so another 2 weeks of triggers.

Time of day and light/sky conditions. Evenings are the worst for me, especially if there is a bright full moon. Takes me right back to last year, when I walked around all night, leaving at dusk most evenings. I walked so much that I had to have my right heel surgically repaired, and both of my feet were one enormous bleeding blister. One day, the day I decided, after about 3 weeks of this, that I had to seek medical care for it, I came home from work and wrung the bloody fluid out of my right sock, the left wasn’t far behind. So, when the light and sky are right, I’m right back to 2012 in my mind.

Dates. Anniversary Dates. This is probably pretty common, we all have bad memories of certain dates. September 10th is coming in a few days – last year, I had to go to downtown Detroit in the afternoon for my job, after I finished what I had to do at the Court, I walked around downtown, taking pictures and crying. Because I thought it was my last day of freedom, my last day as anything more than “just a psych patient,” my last day as a free and equal member of society, the last day I would probably have a career, the last day people wouldn’t know I was a psych patient. I had to report to the day hospital the next morning at 8:30 AM. And, it was really rough. I took a ton of pictures of Downtown sights and of Windsor, Ontario across the river. I briefly fantasized about running to Canada and seeking asylum, but that was fear, the Royal Canadian Mounties probably would have scooped me up and put me in an asylum for sure. WORST of all, I had an appointment for an eye exam and glasses that night when I got back. I scheduled one for tomorrow, and, guess what, they called and wanted to know if I could reschedule for Tuesday the 10th. Yikes!

The word “trigger” is a bit of a trigger, since so much of my saga past involved the concept of death by firearms.

[kirby777]

Hi-
Certain dates.

Covergirl Base make-up in the older bottle.(date rapist had this in his bathroom) Just thinking of it freaks me out.

Certain smells I cannot describe.

[A Red Panda]

My birthday.

Sometimes when I'm really full and don't want to finish a meal I'll sorta freak out and keep eating.

When someone is driving and they get "too close" to a vehicle before slowing down. I don't do well with sudden stops because I think they'll hit the car.

Being picked up or anything that will involve my head going backwards.

[Open Eyes]

Mowtown, think of these tights as you "Peter Pan" costume.

[MotownJohnny]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Mowtown, think of these tights as you "Peter Pan" costume.

Eww! at least I only have to wear one leg at a time.

They do help, my leg looks a lot better except for the bruising.

The smell of polo cologne. Lots of smells. The sound of an ambulance or other siren. Fire. The color orange. Dates, anniversaries are still sometimes hard.

[AnxietyGirl916]

Certain smells: Old Spice aftershave, stale beer, and bread dough.

My abuser was my alcoholic step-father who was a baker. He still calls me from time to time. Just seeing his phone number on the caller ID makes my stomach hurt and the sweats going. The phone messages (which I don't answer or listen to) typically cause nightmares and leaves me anxious for days. No matter how many times I change my phone number, he still manages to get it. Probably from his daughter.

PTSD Anxiety SUCKS!

[fadedstar]

Smells: cheap beer, stale beer, motor oil, old sweaty clothes (like a guy who's worn the same thing for several days)

Sounds: polka music (my abusive grandfather used to blare polkas)

anytime I have to be in a reclined or semi reclined position. it makes me feel naked no matter how many layers I have on. Also anything being placed into my mouth from a tongue depressor to a swab to a dentist's drill. My gag reflex goes into overdrive.

[transientsoul]

Isn't it remarkable how much smell influences the mind?

My trigger smell is Pine-Sol Original. When I was homeless, the one shelter I was in reeked of it. If I walk into a gas station etc., now that smells of it, the hair stands up on the back of my neck, I get nauseous and unless I absolutely can't - I'll turn around and walk right out the door.

On the other hand, sometimes smell is good: Crayons for example. I'm also one of those weird people who like things like the smell of asphalt, gasoline, bleach (not mixed together, no no...) stale beer, dumpster-in-the-summer trashy breeze... LOL. You know... Is it any wonder I loved going to New Orleans?

[lightcatcher]

Small spaces, if something falls under the bed it stays there till I find something that can reach it.
Clothing, or anything that I want off me that gets caught. like trying to take a top off and it gets stuck, or undo a zip/buttons that won't work.

[widowlost]

When some one says "Knock on wood", fireworks are a big issue and cap guns. Anything Harley davidson. Guns period
All to do with witnessing my husbands murder and almost being shot myself
Triggers due to csa and rape: stale beer, bandanas, multiple door locks, yellow robes. TicklinAnd i have issues with night time.

Because some of my C-PTSD issues derived from on-the-job abuse, sending out resumes and revising resumes is a BIG trigger for me. In fact, even thinking about job hunting is a trigger.

[IndieVisible]

vacuum cleaners..

[JaneC]

Small enclosed spaces, big crowds, if anyone(including my son) puts their hand over my mouth, sudden noises, my ex husband(have to see him at least twice a week), New Years Eve, ..........the list could go on and on

Guy, thank you so much for writing this. I thought I was the only one :/ Since being laid off from my previous place of employment, I am terrified by the thought of going back to those types of environments. It literally makes me feel sick

Originally Posted by unhappyguy

Because some of my C-PTSD issues derived from on-the-job abuse, sending out resumes and revising resumes is a BIG trigger for me. In fact, even thinking about job hunting is a trigger.

Weird triggers? Besides the (corporate) job environment...

- seeing a hair style similar to my mothers (short, blond bob )
- being stuck in the middle lane(s) on the freeway
- sound of a baby crying
- being woken up by a loud noise
- department stores / malls

(just writing about it is making my skin crawl)

[Open Eyes]

When someone lies to me and plays mind games.

When someone talks "over me" or "cuts me off" when I am trying to explain something or just giving my opinion on something. Being the youngest that happened to me "a lot" and my husband did that a lot when he was an active alcoholic and he often does it still.

Being around someone who is always in a "hurry" like my husband who has ADHD, he is always saying "hurry up". I had that growing up too because I was the youngest and smallest and everyone kept saying "hurry up" and I was just smaller and could "not" keep up.

When someone is condescending to me, had to deal with that from my sister all my life really, also my husband tends to be like that too. I hate it because they go on and on and are often "wrong" and then all I hear is, "oh, well, sorry, just get over it".

When I am telling the "truth" about something "important" and people do not "believe me" and are dismissive.

When I ask people to do something a certain way because I don't like to take "chances" and they insist on doing something half fast taking chances that they don't really have to do. Especially when it comes to handling my horses or ponies, things like leading them in and taking off their halter without first making sure the gate is closed to make sure they don't run out and get loose.

That is "really bad" now because even though I took the time on "many" occasions to
explain to my neighbors the danger of them allowing their dogs to run loose they only heard that I didn't want to "see their dog running lose" so they allowed them to run loose while I was sleeping that caused severe damage and even death to my horses and ponies.

Being disrespected when I ask someone "not to do something" and leave the room only to return later and "catch" them doing just what I asked them "not" to do.

Telling people that I do not allow children over a certain weight to ride the pony and they stand there with a child "I know is too big" and insist their child doesn't weigh that much. I now carry a scale with me to combat that. It's sad that I have to stop and "prove them wrong" on many occasions. Like I said, I hate liars.

People who insist on having "extremely loud" motorcycles. It is against the law and yet they seem to "need" to make them obscenely loud and it does scare my ponies.

People who insist on shooting off fireworks that are loud and dangerous and could start a fire even though we have laws prohibiting that. I especially hate it when it is my neighbor who feels "he" is an exception to the law and shoots them off next to my barns risking my barns catching fire.

People who ride their bikes in the middle of the road like they "own the road" and they don't even pull over so I can get by.

People who treat animals like they are just something to "use" to get a ribbon or win or make money without respect or regard for the animal.

Hay dealers who will sell hay even though they know it is moldy or has toxic plants in it that can make any horse or animal that eats it very sick and even cause a horrible death.

People who will sell a pony to a child knowing the pony or even horse is "dangerous", that happens a lot.

People who can "see" abuse, any kind of abuse and choose to "ignore it".

Therapists that have no business being therapists.

People who cut me off in traffic and then slow down.

Anyone who cheats and steals and lies at the expense of others.

Politicians that make promises and never follow through, that play games and back peddle when they are caught, and the people that believe them just because they happen to be the one they voted for.

When I am in any kind of relationship with someone, be it friend or business or what have you and that person does something "wrong" and they turn around and blame me and bad mouth me to others when "they" are the one at fault. I can't say enough how that angers me to the depths of me. Unfortunately that has happened to me a lot in my life and it has not been "little things" it has been some very "big things" where I was left with the damage that was "not my fault and I did not deserve it".

Those are just a few off the top of my head.

OE

[ImperfectMe]

When I hear the "clink" noise of someone's ring on their finger hitting or sliding against the handrail of a stairway.

Plaid shorts.

[Grey Matter]

I think my "weirdest" trigger are certain colors of christmas lights.

:/

[A Red Panda]

oh! I thought of another weird one.

If someone calls me by the shortened version of my name.

[LooseThread]

Gold necklaces, chains. My abuser wore this, it still to this day does my head in. Makes me quiver inside.

[Patagonia]

Horses! Horse manure, saddle soap. Smell of leather, cobblestone, jodhpurs & being called Darlin' puts me thru the roof on the inside & frozen on the outside.

[JadeAmethyst]

gossip, gossip, gossip
people who talk at me, but not to me
loud noises, crowds, elevators that are full
people who stand, or touch who are too familiar
clutter or trash in cars
"friends" who mention my appearance, weight, skin (really!)

[JadeAmethyst]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

oh! I thought of another weird one.

If someone calls me by the shortened version of my name.

me too,