Triggers

[Banned]

I'm just wondering what strategies some people use to handle really strong triggers? I don't think avoiding them is the right thing to do, cause I can't avoid them all the time, and by avoiding them I'm not learning how to deal with them.

Any suggestions on how to handle the intense feelings and anxiety / panic that triggers cause?

 

[Budoaiki]

For me I deconstructed how I react to stress; physically, emotionally and how it effects my internal dialogue which indicates my perspective state of mind.

What I found is that my breathing and heartrate ect increased and I go into fight or flight mode by anticipating the worst to be prepared. I examined how this affects me by writing out my thoughts unrestricted when stressed and examining the changes in my thought patterns compared to my normal calm state when re-reading what I'd wrote (which I now reach by the time I am finished writing).

So now when I am triggered by whatever stress I use meditative breathing techniques from martial arts to calm myself physically which allows me to think clearly and deal with things from an emotionally balanced perspective.

I do this with a couple of montra's like; "If I lose my head then I can't use it.", "I can't control or always predict what happens but I can control myself." and "If I feed doubt I can't starve hope."

 

[forgetmenot]

when i feel the panic i too talk to myself i just keep saying over and over your ok everything is ok and i also breath in the box slow breaths It does not take all the pain away but it keeps me from running away with the thoughts.