Do you avoid your triggers?

[cluckeyo]

During the beginning of my illness, I was living in a large city. It seemed like everything about that city rubbed me the wrong way and I had bad symptoms that just continued. Finally I moved to the country and what a difference it made. Once I made it through the initial adjustment, I would come to know this entirely different world that was like crash landing on a soft pillow. After being gone from the city now for many years, I am certain that I could never go back there successfully. And, I wouldn't want to. Just moving out of that environment made a big difference.

 

[John Snort]

I always try to avoid anything that will trigger anxiety or depression. At times though no matter how hard one tries, it can next to impossible to avoid triggers because on the net you never will know when you'll stumble into something you didn't want to. But if you know your triggers and when you can, avoid them, you'll not have to regularly combat either depression or anxiety.

 

[Alex]

It is wise and sensible to avoid your triggers, but figuring out what they are is the hard part. Often they are subconscious and I don't subscribe to the theory to confronting everything in one go. One thing at at a time, and only some things should be healed or resolved, and only if all parties are willing.


Also some people won't understand what triggers you, so it is best to avoid them with people you don't know. While I do feel avoidance can help, eventually one must confront them or come to terms with how to deal with things.

 

[HappyKoi]

For me, it's kind of yes and no. Sometimes I seek them out, thinking I can handle them. Sometimes I can, most times, not so much. I've been getting into the habit of stopping the moment I'm triggered (so it doesn't become worse) and taking a few quiet moments to check in with my feelings, deal with them, and take a look at what might be causing them. Sometimes I have to pull away to calm myself down and take care of myself. If I'm feeling up to it later, I try to go back over my day and take a look at what upset me, figure out why, and make a plan for what to do if it happens again. I use a lot of spiritual work, meditation, and positive self-talk. Journaling also helps a lot.

 

[kelden]

I tried to, but sometimes is inevitable. I had several triggers, most of them are derived from loud noises. Fortunately, I live in a peaceful neighbourhood and away from city's traffic, so loud noises are not as usual. The issue is that It also mean I am less likely to get used to it and react worse when it triggers me and happens. But anyway, not everything has to be perfect, I'm far better tha my past self, and that's all what matters to me.

 

[Panic57]

I try to avoid sad movies and shows as much as I can because those sad stories stick to my head and heart pretty quickly. But it's hard to escape because even happy stories add a sad backstory to add depth to the characters. Plus, interesting stories need some level of drama. Though, I do weed out the negative people in my life, except the family members i can't escape from. It sometimes take a few moments to realize that someone is bad for you. I used to feel really guilty about getting people out of my life because I was expected to be considerate of others and all that. But the older I get the quicker I get rid of people that are bad for me. It's better being lonely than under then depressed because someone ruined my day with their rudeness or negative words.

 

[Surrender]

I have spent most of my life avoiding unknown social situations and can't say it did me any good. My social anxiety followed me no matter how I tried to run from it. But in recent years I have been forced to face it (mainly by having children I must set a good example for). And I had anxiety for a few years of interactions (that I hid as well as possible).


Now I feel I have overcome my social anxiety from being forced to face it so often. I still dislike certain social situations, but I no longer feel anxiety over them. However, I'm sure if hermit-ed myself away for a few years, it would be terribly hard once again to come out of my shell. So I try to stay out there now. It was painful, embarrassing, anxiety provoking and difficult, but so worth it to now be on the other side.

 

[Ippolito]

I tried to' date=' but sometimes is inevitable. I had several triggers, most of them are derived from loud noises. Fortunately, I live in a peaceful neighbourhood and away from city's traffic, so loud noises are not as usual. The issue is that It also mean I am less likely to get used to it and react worse when it triggers me and happens. But anyway, not everything has to be perfect, I'm far better tha my past self, and that's all what matters to me.[/quote']
Loud noises drive me crazy too. I have resorted to wearing headphones and listening to white noise from the moment I wake up untl midnight. Living in a city next to a military base sucks for people like us, those fighter jets fly at a really low altitude and are loud as hell. And of course there are dogs everywhere, especially in the more semi-rural areas that one would expect to be quieter, and they never stop barking. I used to like dogs but now I try to avoid them as much as possible.

 

[Jemina]

I'm actually something of the opposite - I used to live in the middle of nowhere and that gave me so much anxiety it was unreal. It was always so dark, you couldn't see if someone was hiding in the shadows. And having my house broken into only confirmed this in my mind. I was miles even from the nearest shop so I'd always be worried about running out of food or electricity or getting injured and not being able to get help. 


Now I live in the city, sure some things can annoy me a bit, but I know there are people around if I needed help, areas are well lit... I find that I'm triggered a lot less in the city than I was in the countryside. 


And, my asthma is better too, surprisingly!

 

[kelden]

Now speaking about other kind of triggers, like social triggers. I managed to avoid them a lot, but I think is a bad idea, I should try to bring those triggers to finally face them on, I think I'm prepared and confident. I'll conquer them all.