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When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

strongSenior Contributor01 Nov 2018, 9:33 am AEDT

When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

I am seeking advice on how people cope with something triggering them quite badly and completely out of the blue. But, then your physical response to the trigger and the feelings you get with that are also then a massive trigger. It keeps you there and unable to escape it for some time and once you have you are left quite shaken.

i have PTSD and I have been controlling and avoiding a lot of situations so I don’t put myself in risk of being triggered.

But, I am also trying to move through this and live a better quality of life.

My reactions are quite scared/angry, and aggressive, which evokes a negative response and therefore makes the situation more scary and triggering.

i feel I am doing ok, but all I have really done is been good at avoiding. I am quiet shaken by how the trigger then almost evolved into my flashback and I am very nervous to leave the property, I feel too on edge and reactive.

Does any of this make sense, does someone get what I am explaining, how do they cope?

Please?

2 replies

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In response to: When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

AppleblossomSenior Contributor01 Nov 2018, 4:05 pm AEDT

Re: When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

It makes sense to me as a classic ptsd response. @strong

Sometimes it is wise to avoid triggers and sometimes you have to face them. You need good insight to distinguish the diference. These days therpaists are more careful about retraumatising people.

I have large triggering responses in my body. Once triggered I have to go through a course of feelings calming activities and minimalising stress to get back to a grounded state. It can take up to a week of careful self care management before I settle. It all depends on what else is going on and the triggers.

I am old enough to have done the feel the fear and try it anyway .... to death ... metaphorically if you get what I mean. Been exposed to too many traumatising experiences.

Take Care

Maybe work on calming cenering activities until the arousal states reduces.

Eventually I hope you can feel better and go back to "usual plans" not fear leaving the property.

Eg., For me I had to drive on a very busy freeway to get to commitments. SO that had to stop when triggered. I just was not safe enough. I am getting better at managing it over time.

In response to: Re: When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

strongSenior Contributor01 Nov 2018, 10:02 pm AEDT

Re: When you feel you are stuck in a ‘trigger wheel’

Hi @Appleblossom

Thank you for your response.

I have been working hard on exposing myself to some triggers and learning to ground myself etc...

It is the complete out of the blue triggers that are hard, and as you say take so long to feel safe enough to venture out.

I think I am stronger and moving forward and then it all comes crashing down and I feel I have lost all the ground I have made.

Being a Mum and wife I cannot just keep avoiding, I have to push forward and expose myself to triggers to operate day to day, but I know I need to be able to give myself the chance to calm and centre.

This feeling of always being triggered and having them control you is quite overwhelming.

Hearing you gaining strength and a little control over your trigger situations is awesome, you have worked hard.

Take care.

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