As someone who has had to deal with the horrors of PTSD, it’s incredibly important to understand just how debilitating it can be. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition caused by experiencing or witnessing frightening, dangerous, or life-threatening events. Triggers can be anything from sounds or smells to specific words or even just reliving the experience in your thoughts. In this blog, I’ll take you through some of my personal experiences with PTSD triggers and how trauma therapy helped me manage them.

What are the symptoms of PTSD triggers? 🤔

The first step to dealing with PTSD triggers is to understand the symptoms behind them. Symptoms of a PTSD trigger might include intense emotions such as fear, anger, or sadness, and physical reactions like hypervigilance, racing heart, or sweating. In my experience, I find myself reliving the trauma like it’s happening all over again.

What is trauma therapy? 🌟

Trauma therapy is a kind of therapy specifically designed to help individuals dealing with PTSD. Unlike traditional talk therapy, trauma therapy often involves experiential methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), prolonged exposure therapy (PET), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which target the specific issues that come with PTSD.

How does trauma therapy help with PTSD triggers? 🔑

Trauma therapy can help individuals with PTSD in a variety of ways. For me, trauma therapy gave me the necessary tools and techniques to face my triggers head-on. One method that helped me was CBT, where I learned to identify negative thought patterns and challenge them. This helped me change the way I think to make the triggers less powerful. My therapist also guided me to face my fears in a safe and controlled environment.

What can I do on my own to manage PTSD triggers? 🙋‍♀️

While trauma therapy is incredibly helpful, there are a few things you can do on your own to manage PTSD triggers. One way I’ve found helpful is to practice mindfulness, which has been shown to decrease symptoms of PTSD. This can be a simple as taking deep breaths or doing a body scan, paying attention to parts of your body and their sensations. Another method is to engage in self-care activities such as taking a long bath or going for a walk.

How can I help a loved one deal with their PTSD triggers? ❤️

If you have a loved one dealing with PTSD, there are some things you can do to help. First and foremost, it’s important to be there for them unconditionally. Encourage them to seek professional help, but understand that it may take time for them to feel comfortable opening up. Also, make sure to avoid any triggers if you know what they are. Offer to go to therapy with them or help them find a support group if that would be helpful.

An image of a person walking into a therapy office

In conclusion, if you or someone you know is dealing with PTSD triggers, it’s important to understand that they can be managed with the right treatment. Trauma therapy can be a great way to learn how to deal with triggers and prevent them from controlling your life. Remember that PTSD is a real condition and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. By seeking help, you’re taking the first step towards living a happier and healthier life.

An image of a person smiling and walking into the distance