Post Traumatic Stress Support Group

I had a therapy appointment today and I was telling her about my dissociations over the past couple of days and she asked what my triggers were. I couldn't give her an really good answer because I really have no idea. Once I was at the store, once I was watching friends.

How do you figure out what your triggers are when you don't know what to look for?

Perhaps its an emotion or state of mind that is triggered by certain situations.

You can't figure out what your triggers are unless you see it for yourself on papper. This is where journaling comes into play. Always keep a pad of papper and pen with you where ever you go.

( Hope To Cope ) Scott

I wrote some triggers down today. Could a thought pattern be a trigger?

Both of the times I wrote something down, I was worried about what the other person would think and that I am not "good enough".

Yes leigha a thought pattern can be a trigger. You made a good point. For example being mail and sexually abused by another male i was deathy afraid what others would think of me. So i clamed up and never said anything to any one for years not even teling my own parents everything that happen. So yes writing things down it makes you wounder OMG what if. I think your wounderful and good enough. Good job.

( Hope To Cope ) Scott

Thank you!

I live in a very rural community and it's hard to identify myself with people around here because of what I have been through.

The conversation that took place today that triggered me for over an hour was my co-worker talking about being on the monterail when she was leaving a twins game. She told me she would never go on it again because when she was riding it, there were two large black males standing near the exit. She was scared they were going to stab her or something.

I thought this whole comment to me was stupid because just because they are black does not mean they are going to stab someone out of the blue.I then got to thinking about how I would have asked them nicely to move and if they didn't I would have told them to get the fuck out of my way. I remember thinking to myself that if I told this co-worker of mine that I used to date a black guy and hung out with gang members and that stuff like that doesn't scare me, she would have looked at me like I was a freak. I sometimes feel like I'm not good enough because of my past and it bothers me that I can't "fit" into normal rural society.