Trigger such a strange word don’t you think?
Defined it has multiple meanings:
part of a firearm or mechanism that initiates a firing or action when activated, or it can be a stimulus that causes a reaction, such as an emotional response or the recall of a traumatic memory.
I have used firearms, being ex-military and a previous competitive rifle shooter I am very familiar with the trigger mechanism. Some triggers are so sensitive that the slightest touch would set them off. And yet if you think about it, just as the trigger of a firearm is the mechanism by which to start the process of discharging a weapon, a sight, sound, smell or action is the mechanism by which an emotional response occurs when recalling a traumatic memory.
I open this blog not simply to discuss what those triggers might be. But how someone has overcome or lessened their responses to those triggers.
I have had so many traumatic events in my life. Apparently my sharing them became triggering enough to have my post suspended.
That being said I open this forum as a means to help others who suffer from different types of past traumas and the triggers that may cause those memories to resurface. Here are a few of mine:
I am triggered by the smell of Drakkar, Grey Flannel and Old Spice Aftershave. I was assaulted by three men while serving. I remember their scent vividly. That mixed with beer and cigarettes has always been a trigger to the flashback of the assault. I cannot drink beer of any kind and I avoid any man who wears any of these colognes. The positive that came out of this is that I quit smoking.
A secondary trigger for me is the covering of my head with a pillow or hood. This stems from the trauma of having a pillow placed over my face and also a bag when I was assaulted. The thought of a hood over my head has caused me severe anxiety. This one I recently chose to face head on. With the help of a deeply caring and patient Dom, I was able to place a hood over my head. His soothing voice patiently talked me through it. Using humor he distracted me and was able to regulate my breathing so I didn’t have a full blown panic attack. I am grateful for his guidance.
I have many other triggers, but these are two major ones for me. I open the floor for others to share.