hello brianna. welcome to ds.

personally, i treat the triggers as incidental. for the most part, another word for "trigger" is "reminder" and reminders are everywhere, all the time. the odds of removing all reminders from the world is about as likely as removing all germs from the unseen world. good luck with that. even after i identify the triggers, the reminders remain. eg. one of my meaner ptsd triggers is bright electric lights. what are my odds of getting my neighbors to turn off their security lights for the benefit of my strictly personal sanity?

i focus on the symptoms. when my heart is racing for whatever reason, i do breathing exercises until my heart rate returns to normal. when i want to attack the neighbors for having a yard lit like a child porno set, i do anger channeling exercises, preferably not on the "pornographer's" face.

but that is me and every case is unique. . .

gentle support while you sort your own case, brianna. welcome aboard.

I've discovered that triggers are always changing for me, depending on where I'm at, who I'm with, etc etc etc etc....

So, if I'm out in the woods on a quiet walk, a sudden movement is usually fine. If I'm around people? It's a trigger. Sudden loud noises? Depends on the noise, and was it caused by a man or not? (My late dad had a very big booming angry voice.)

Context, in other words, plays a big part for me.

But I still can know, "Ah, that's triggering", and want it to go the he** away, just in case this is the day my coping runs out. Again.

As arfie said, each case is unique. And yet, we're all a bit alike, aren't we?

Puma support.

Welcome to the board cbrianna...... This is a good place to come.... I love the interchanging of words Arf..... Triggers=reminders...... Well put

I'm sorry for what's brought you here but glad that you've found us.... Lots of great people here..... Big hug... xo

Same here, brianna, I don't chase triggers as much as I prep for how to cope when triggered. Some of my triggers are obvious and do lead me to requests. I ask those that I live with not to come up behind me to bear hug me even if they mean well. But then during my day something unforeseen and unavoidable may trigger me. In therapy I learned some techniques for getting through flashbacks. They show up here in therapist Pete Walkers tips for managing flashbacks. They've worked for me, so here's the link in case you want to see if they might work for you, too.

http://www.pete-walker.com/13StepsManageFlashbacks.htm

Its hard because they do change and i just recently realize that fadt movemnt like a hand or walking towarss mw is a trigger. I know that they are everyehere but my breathing exercises help sometimes.

I'm a coping as they come person. I find it's more exhausting to try and avoid them as I too discover new ones . It is important for me to identify what they are as some are important to avoid as the panic is extreme/uncontrollable. First thing after my shower is to rub an essential oil on the back of my wrists and forearm. Not strong enough for everyone to smell but long lasting and strong enough to smell when I itch my nose or cross my arm(s) across my chest. It is frustrating and a constant learning curve. PTSD is a journey with cruel obstacles.

Thank you everyone