Understanding the Triggers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Vincente Mozell

The entire world can feel like a minefield if you or a loved one battle with episodes from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms can erupt without any warning. No matter how erratic they may be, usually, symptoms flare up from internal and external ignition known as triggers.

Although life with PTSD can be devastating at times, you don’t have to go at it alone. Here at I Got U, a psychotherapist is always available to help. By working with a qualified mental health professional who can assist you with understanding your triggers, you will, in time, learn to manage symptoms effectively and healthily so that healing from your trauma can begin.

Where Do PTSD Triggers Come From?

Our bodies have a built-in defense mechanism called “fight-or-flight” that kicks in when we’re in a dangerous or life-threatening situation. It’s an instinctual survival mode that revs up our heart rate, pumps adrenaline into our blood, and puts our senses on high alert.

Being in a state of elevated awareness and intense vigilance lets us absorb as much detail about the situation as possible. Still, it consequently causes the brain to suspend some of its normal functions like short-term memory. These physiological enhancements help us cope with perceived or real danger in the immediacy of frightening circumstances. However, in the long-term, they can make it extremely challenging to process the events.

Unfortunately, with unprocessed trauma, the brain keeps the original incident alive and present for months or years, even when it isn’t. That’s why the appearance of any subtlety or trivial aspect connected with the memory of that trauma can trigger PTSD symptoms and make you feel as if you’re living the unfortunate experience all over again. With the guidance and insurance of a psychotherapist at I Got U, you may be able to see many of the triggers that kick you into overdrive that you didn’t realize were affecting you in an adverse way. They can be any people, places, things or experiences that bring to mind the traumatic event.

Classifying Internal and External Triggers

There are two basic categories that PTSD triggers can fall into: internal and external. An internal trigger deals with all the things that happen within your body like your emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations. An external trigger can be a particular person, a certain place or specific situations that occur in the environment around you and outside of your mind that disrupts your mental health and makes you recall the trauma you experienced or evoke feelings you had during a distressing moment from your past.

Internal triggers can include:

• Feeling out of control, overwhelmed, abandoned or vulnerable
• Memories associated with the traumatic event
• Muscle tension
• Anxiety
• Pain
• Sadness
• Anger
• External triggers could be:

External triggers could be:

• The anniversary of the event
• Running into someone related to the trauma in some way
• Seeing someone who has physical features that are similar to someone related to the trauma
• Hearing or reading certain words or phrases
• Distinct smells, like fumes, associated with the event
• News articles, TV programs, movies, or videos that remind you of the trauma
• Visual cues linked to the traumatic experience like a street sign, a particular color, an article of clothing, or a building
• Specific sounds that may have been heard during the event, such as sirens or screams

 Being Mindful of Your Triggers

Not all PTSD triggers are apparent. That’s why getting help from a mental health services provider, like one you can find at I Got U, can be a beacon shining its light across the ocean after being lost at sea. A psychotherapist is that empathetic observer who can help you see what’s there, even if you aren’t able to. Sometimes it can be tough to determine what triggers you if you can’t be objective.

If you cope with post-traumatic stress, think back to times when you showed symptoms. Can you remember what was going on near you or where you were? Can you recall the types of thoughts you might have been having at the time? It’s possible when you were symptomatic that exposure to recurring triggers caused the PTSD episodes.

You might not be able to detect all that arouses you on your own. However, by working with a mental health professional, you can gradually explore and discover your internal and external triggers in a safe and supportive environment. Your psychotherapist can then teach you to recognize how these triggers affect you and provide you with coping strategies you can perfect with time.

You’re not alone in this. Remember that “I Got U.” With the proper help, you can improve your daily function and eventually regain control of your symptoms and, subsequently, your life. You can either ride the waves or be drowned beneath them. Don’t waste another second, contact us today if you are ready to restore peace in your life.