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Member Since Sep 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 112
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#1
My Therapist has asked me track what triggers me, but I'm having a hard time managing it. I feel like I'm stuck in a depression cycle right now, which makes everything really hard.
I'm currently just noting it down with date and time, but sometimes I don't always have pen and paper. I also struggle with knowing at the time if its going to trigger me later in the day. Is this normal? This is all new to me and I feel like I'm drowning. My husband got irritated at the dog, like he's done many times before, but it triggered my PTSD response and put me on high alert. This was super unsettling and I really don't know how to handle it. __________________ If life was just ... |
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Alive99, Ceara1010, mote.of.soul, MtnTime2896, Open Eyes, RoxanneToto
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guy1111
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catches the flowers
Member Since Jul 2019
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#2
Well, I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you're serious about tracking your triggers be sure you keep a pen with you all the time, and paper - even a small notebook.
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Mar 2011
Location: Northeast USA
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#3
It takes time to figure out the things that can trigger you. It requires a lot of patience as it's a slow process. Most get confused and even frustrated. Try to do some reading about ptsd. Yes, depression is a symptom too.
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mote.of.soul, ShaneG
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RoxanneToto
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#4
Maybe being asked what triggers you by a pdoc is triggering!
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jai-jai
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Alive99, jai-jai
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#5
I'm doing this same process and its not easy. The other day I was folding laundry and looked up and I was hit with a hallucination of my ex husband. I've folded laundry 1000s of times without incident. I read somewhere (sorry I can't remember exactly) that keeping a journal doesn't mean just a pen and paper. I started keeping a trigger journal by texting myself regularly throughout the day. After I recovered from the laundry incident, I looked through my texts to myself and found 2 possible triggers from hours earlier. It works for me better than a pen and paper. The only time I can't find 30 seconds to send myself a quick text is when I'm driving. But I couldn't use a pen and paper then either.
I hope you find something that works for you to track triggers. **hugs** |
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jai-jai, ShaneG
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RoxanneToto
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Member
Member Since Apr 2018
Location: US
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#6
You are doing great so far! Connecting the trigger to your husband and the dog is good. Trust your gut. If your gut tells you something is wrong, jot it down, or make mental note of it. It doesn't matter how illogical the connection seems rationally, it's the feeling. Your brain will slowly begin to connect the dots on it's own. Don't give up! You are strong for tackling your emotional wounds!
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jai-jai, ShaneG
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Alive99, RoxanneToto
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Member
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Location: Seattle, WA
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#7
Quote:
I didn't even think about using my phone. I use that as a distraction device mostly, which isn't always good. HUGS! __________________ If life was just ... |
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Member
Member Since Sep 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 112
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#8
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Thank you. __________________ If life was just ... |
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Poohbah
Member Since May 2016
Location: Texas USA
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#9
My T also suggested I start keeping a trigger log and I have trouble remembering to jot things down sometimes. I'd say I remember half the time to write them down.
__________________ Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success. -Ernest Shackleton |
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#10
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Hey. Hm that's so interesting about your therapist's request. I don't know if my triggers can be categorised and tracked like that. They are too random and varied. Really anything about intimate / personal interactions can be a trigger. (But I have cPTSD tho) Yes, the feeling of drowning bc there's so much of it, that's familiar. It will get better as you figure things out over time, I think. I think I have one general tip for you. Anything from the situation or bunch of situations that caused you the trauma, will be capable of acting like a trigger (or also just an emotional flashback if you have cPTSD) later. And I think unravelling all the traumatic situations and reworking them is the real solution to it eventually. That is my understanding. Maybe it'll help with the categorising to track triggers more easily. (That is the one way I've tried to do it but since for me it involves years of stuff, it's still too complex to categorise and track it all) |
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Member
Member Since Sep 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
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#11
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Alive99
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#12
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Member
Member Since Sep 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 112
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#13
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