What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a term for certain psychological consequences of exposure to, or confrontation with, stressful experiences that the person experiences as h...
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How to kill a wasp...
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As an experienced gardener, I have developed a respect for bees and wasps; that rarely attack if and when left undisburbed--even when I enter their domain.
However, should a bee or wasp enter "my" domain (home), this represents an entirely different scenario. All hell breaks loose. I have learned that the most effective strategy for dealing with this unfortunate circumstance, is (believe it or not) not to call in the heavy artilliary, but to disable the pest by spraying it with a light mist of hairspray before discarding it in the toilet. Analogously, we experience other sorts of pests in life not of the insect species (be it triggers or neanderthals), and while discussing effective strategies for combatting one of them, a counselor this morning reflected on how my inclinations are to bring in the heavy artilliary. Herein lies an example of how triggers in connection with the trauma/s can cause me to overreact or to react severely to situations. When I am triggered, I often react "as if" I am being threatened, struck, or attacked. This sometimes (okay, "oftentimes") causes me to react to other situations and people accordingly; but usually ONLY if there is triggering within the environment or has occurred within the peripheral of time or place. One of my therapists believed that--the fact that I am an introvert and "tend to" process things by internalizing first--this fact would work to my advantage by minimizing the impulse and temptation to bring in the heavy artilliary when fuzed. In as much as I am to discern most of the time, and can oftentimes suspend my reaction/s, I still experience the freeze, fight, flight impulses. The introversion may at times disable the immediate reaction, but this is only temporary and I have learned from years of experience that "stifling" or suspension of my response in fact produces worse consequences to my interior functioning and processing. At the risk of re-tating or over-stating the obvious, can anyone else here relate? And if so... How do others here more effectively respond to this? Thoughts? Suggestions? Posted on 11/04/09, 10:11 am |
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PS, "A SWAT team" is not the correct answer. 
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Great post. When my PTSD was at it's worst, my fear of triggers and my panic attacks but most of all I feared what my mind was going to do with these intrusive thoughts and predictions. My body would go to a freeze positions like someone had a gun in my mouth. It seemed unbearable and out of control. Stiflinf or avoiding or tamping down thoughts only made them grow.
Everything I did made the issue worse at first. My therapist recommended that I practice acceptance. These thoughts are my own. I own them and may as well accept that fact. I accepted I had PTSD and I would work to get better. I worked on it when i was not triggered. I would lay quiet and clear my mind and wait. Intrusive thoughts would come up and I would just accept them and observe them. I was afraid at first but got better as I practiced. I learned to observe the thoughts without being emotionally engaged with them. I aw them on there own without the emotion. It is not a fast process however it moved me in the right direction. Now I can observe my thoughts and triggers may be unconfortable but my nervous system stays calm and I have regained alot of my life. it is a learn skill as is perserverence. Good Luck
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