[CantExplain]

Can triggers ever be defused, so that they don't trigger me any more?

[growlycat]

Let me know if you find the answer!

[growlycat]

In all seriousness, I have found that some things trigger me more than others. Over the years, some stimuli trigger less than before. For example the written word less so than pictures.

What's hard for me is knowing how to avoid triggering others.

[Wren_]

my experience has been, yes. But with ... a lot of painful work. My t did some desensitizing work with me which helped (look up systematic desensitization and exposure therapy); as well as cbt work with some other triggers and i've read about others who used flooding (although that to me sounds like it could further traumatize people). again, there can be a lot of pain and hurt and upset involved but sometimes ... it seems necessary with some triggers to move forward

[Rapunzel]

There is only one treatment that works as a cure for any type of anxiety, which triggers are a symptom of. It is to look at what triggers you, and face it. There is more than one way to do that, but anything that works will involve facing it. Anything else might make it easier to manage the symptoms, but it won't be a cure.

The key with triggers is to understand why it is a trigger. You are associating it with something in the past. What is it about the trigger that makes you feel like you did in past situation(s)? Then you have to separate out what is happening right now from what happened back then, and be aware of the difference. Often, this will be something to work on with support in therapy, not necessarily on your own. It is uncomfortable and scary, but you will be safe if you take it at a pace that is right for you. It isn't necessary to do it all at once, and if one way doesn't seem to work for you it just might not be the right method for you or the right time. But, yes, triggers can be defused.

Over the years, some of my triggers have definitely definitely gone away. Others are still here, and sometimes new ones surprise me.

For me, as I worked through the triggers, they diminished.

It used to be SUPER TRIGGERING for me to be in a movie theater. I have kids, and my kids want to go to the occasional movie, so I would go, but it would just be 2 hours of anxiety and panic, and it would take me a long time to recover.

When I realized in therapy why movie theaters were so scary for me, the trigger got smaller, almost right away. I went to a movie not too long after that, and while I was there, I practiced putting the scary thoughts on a train that would just roll on by and make room for the next thought. It wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but it wasn't the normal horrifying experience it usually was.

That was a couple of years ago, and I can go to the movies now with almost no problem AT ALL. We worked through the event that caused the trigger in the first place, and it's not really a trigger anymore.

There are some other things that will probably always be a bit of a trigger for me...certain words for example...but some of those are becoming more of an "ugh" moment that I can move through rather than something that sends me spiraling away.

Triggers are horrible, aren't they? (((((((CantExplain)))))))

[KazzaX]

Systematic desensitization

[Perna]

Fear is just a feeling like any other unpleasant feeling (sadness comes to mind). I use triggers as convenient "red flags" of what to work on but don't otherwise respond to them. My psyche often looks like a bizarre golf course with too many greens/holes

One can choose how to use one's energy; running away/avoiding or going toward/exploring/resolving. I get some distance from triggers by getting "scientifically" interested, wondering about why they happened at that time, to me, where they are coming from and doing some detective work. I write my problem up as if I'm someone else and that I've been asked to consult on this problem this other person is having :-)

I don't think one is able to get interested in triggers until some work has been done on them. At first there is no space between trigger and reaction. The rational mind isn't in the forefront at this time, but as one works on one trigger and begins to get breathing space THEN other triggers become easier to look at.

I can deal with my habitual triggers -- the ones that are predictable. I can see those and work on those and eventually get to the point where they rarely trigger me anymore.

It's those pesky triggers that sneak up on me, completely unexpected, completely new and never experienced before, that I haven't had the chance to ever experience or work on before, that throw me for a loop.

I do find that the more I learn to deal with my predictable triggers, the less frequent those unexpected triggers seem to occur.

[Sannah]

I have diffused triggers. I think that you have to work it from both ends. In therapy talk in detail to your therapist about what is getting triggered up - letting out those old and stored feelings in session. Working it on that end will lessen what is being triggered up. On the other end, when you get triggered, in that moment tell yourself what is getting triggered up and that that situation isn't happening right now, that you are safe right now. After several times of doing this, the trigger got less and less each time until it disappeared. You are actually rewiring the brain.

If you work at it yes. I used to be triggered by many many things. Paralyzed by fears. I faced a lot of them over and over. Talked about them. Now i am free from about 98% of those old triggers.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by KazzaX

Systematic desensitization

Sounds scary!

Posting to subscribe. I want to know, myself.

I am trying to think of a good way to explain how I got rid of all those triggers. I know I had to change my thinking. Trying to figure out how to write about it though.

[Rosie23]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Can triggers ever be defused, so that they don't trigger me any more?

Yes. You have to keep walking the road that leads to the triggers and beyond them, so you can see and feel that the event that caused them isn't the issue any longer.

It works. I resolved one that way. And I have been going through a doozy of one lately and although I cannot stop the emotions that keep flooding me I am able to talk myself through it. I know exactly what is causing it and I am flooding myself with positive self talk to get through it.

I can't run away not matter how tempting that is. I have to get through it to move beyond it. It's hard, but it works.

On Friday I went for a walk, and crossed an overpass despite the fact that I am terrified of heights. Feeling the vibrations and hearing the traffic underneath me sent me into panics, I was almost screaming with every step, but I made it across. I chose to do this on purpose, to conquer the fear.

But right now, I don't feel like I could do it again soon.

Does it ever get any easier?

[SoupDragon]

From what I understand a trigger is something that brings back a memory to us - so for me a trigger for remembering my Grandmother is a daisy (her name was Daisy) but I remember her with fondness and warmth, so don't mind having this memory

Conversely a trigger for me remembering a trauma, brings with it overwhelming thoughts and feelings, which I then want to escape from.

So I think (hope?) that T will help me feel less overwhelmed by these memories so that the need to escape them does not follow, but I don't believe the memories will ever disappear from my head, not will I view them with joy and happiness.

Just my thoughts though, don't know if I am correct in this - Soup

[SoupDragon]

Originally Posted by LovebirdsFlying

On Friday I went for a walk, and crossed an overpass despite the fact that I am terrified of heights. Feeling the vibrations and hearing the traffic underneath me sent me into panics, I was almost screaming with every step, but I made it across. I chose to do this on purpose, to conquer the fear.

But right now, I don't feel like I could do it again soon.

Does it ever get any easier?

Hey LoveBirdsFlying - this was so brave of you - well done!

I think it gets easier the more we do it - the more we experience those scarey things and realise that the scarey stuff is that which we create for ourselves.

- Soup

For me, heights may be a trigger going back to early childhood when my father abducted me and my siblings and threatened to do a Thelma and Louise with us unless my mother quit her job and stayed home with the kids "like a woman is supposed to." It's especially hearing the traffic underneath me that terrifies me.

I don't know who said it, but I agree: Bravery isn't not being scared. It's being scared to death, and doing it anyway.