ptsd Triggers...do You Know What They Are?

[halos2]

Triggers...wow what a common subject brought about to us, especially those with PTSD(other mental/behavioral conditions).

So you are diagnosed with PTSD. You put in your va claim because you can't take it anymore...you wait...maybe get a c&p with-in a year, if lucky.

Then wait ...tension builds, you become more irritable, this does not just effect your mental status, but all of your body systems. You go through all the gambits, depression, maybe addictions, laugh/mostly cry, yell, fight, avoidance, introvert, or extrovert s/s, secrets abound you, paranoia sets in...you wait... scream, isolate yourself, demand to others"I am not crazy!"...you don't sleep, or you lock yourself in a room and try to use sleep as your coping mechanism...waiting for a reply, you check the mail, call the va#'s but it just increases the anxiety. Still waiting on your claim..grant/deny/low ball/appeal/bva/etc.

There are so many symptoms we all go through but how we can try to cope with these is something we all have to hopefully find to HELP us along the way. To have some type of sanity in our disturbed life. Finding some solace.

I think here at hadit I personally can find some peace, even if a brief moment..I find "friends" who don't really know me but care about me...care to listen/read and mostly offer encouragement, in a very private place where I can be me, no judgements/no phoney bologna just me. They can be frank and direct and still show kindness and compassion.

I had some issues at the VA yesterday, and as it progressed my B/P and Pulse rose...thump thump thump my head was pounding and I could feel my pulse abounding in every nerve/muscle of my body...I requested the policy and procedures they were trying to use with me...after 30 minutes they gave me a copy"I was right there was nothing in them that validated what they were doing/why they were doing it...I won, but I lost as they say"We have the right to change blah blah blah...But I made it known to put in addendum of exception rule? Who know...

My point I contacted Pete53 prior...can I change it/probably not...is it worth it to let them with "their triggers"(or as I chose my triggers at that moment) make me physically and mentally and emotionally sick? No...I stepped away cried, got more pissed off, then took his advice, don't let them make you sick! Yes I know easier said then done, but the more anxious I got the more it dawned to me..."Let it be and Think of me!' Went to a 3 hour pain group after this...did a relaxation exercise and told EVERYONE ABOUT HADIT!

I think I get caught up in the system and let the "triggers" run me instead of stepping back and "letting it be and thinking of me." That I will try to use as my new motto, at least sometimes/maybe/hopefully. What can I change/not/accept and LIVE.

Today I will try to avoid some triggers, if not I will try to choose to accept what I can and breathe...breathe...deeply breathe...BTW I have known the techniques for years but application has not been practiced.

Thanks to so many friends here at hadit letting a hard headed right person vent!! :D

Edited October 27, 2009 by halos2

[Wings]

So GERMAPHOBES, lets all be conscious of medical techniques used... Also alot of us have PTSD and other behavioral/mental conditions what's a little phobia regarding germs gonna hurt too!

Peace to all! ;)

Not to offend you, but it takes a little than germs for me to feel "triggered" ... Just sayin'. ~Wings

[cowgirl]

Hm. good question. Disrespect is a trigger.

Having a doc visit and when the doc offers me 'any questions?' his hand is on the door to leave......

Having a provider (nurse,doc,PA, etc) sit at the computer asking me questions with their back to me.....(am I making faces at em? yup)

Going to the pharmacy, getting a number, sit down in a congested waiting area with a variety of vets with breathing noises, get up (need to use hand rails to rise with), sit down with tech, hand over my ID with photo,name and number to the tech, after 5 minutes of them reading the computer screen, recieve card back. get back up, return to wait, sit down, wait for small screen on far side of room to display my name, get up, stand in line at the window, being crowded in at the window from other anxious vets within two-three feet of me, tell the clerk behind that plexiglass my name, hand my card over, he carries it to get my medicine, returns my card to me through the window tray, then I have to access a security door 'box' to get my medicine in a brown paper sack.......so remember to use Healthevet! No ID exchange needed! yay.(walmart? videocams and electronic ID checks smoother)

all that pharmacy trails happens to each veteran, no matter size, color, disability, disrespectful.

p.s. All in all, most of my treatment at the VHA is rather really good, just some things get my 'trigger' on.

Edited October 28, 2009 by cowgirl

[Pete53]

Put me down as a germaphobe.I quit shaking hands a long time ago

[halos2]

Thanks Wings for all of your wonderful generous comments...when I read this I was a little perplexed, then I read what I wrote and could realize how you were able to draw that conclusion...I am noted for talking alot, thinking outloud, but when it comes to typing, I type SLOWLY and therefore tend to leave somethings out at times believing all can see my connections, SO here goes what I was trying to convey:

Carlie's post here about a non antiseptic method used when receiving her injection..."I should have called the nurse out on this, if for nothing more than to help protect other veterans. Unfortunately, I have done this in the past, big time, and paid with five years of pure hell going through a Federal Tort Claim."

My point was two-fold; one was to make it lite to the medical personnel""So GERMAPHOBES, lets all be conscious of medical techniques used...and two Also alot of us have PTSD and other behavioral/mental conditions what's a little phobia regarding germs gonna hurt too!"

This was meant to convey to a medical person to "lighten" the way we may feel thereby not directly offending them, but making it seem more of a sort of querk we might have. So saying like hey I have this thing about germs, so would you mind doing such and such as it would really help me with my germaphobe ways, and my phobia about germs...this puts a lighter touch on the subject instead of really saying WTF do you think you are doing...

All triggers are dangerous and if there is a way to get our points across in a non-threatening way to avoid conflict and us not getting shafted more on our claims, I am for it.

I have so many freaking triggers I avoid people altogether some days. But I am learning being somewhat dependent on others who may/maynot have control over my claim, tells me I cannot freely vocalize my thoughts, opinions, objections, as I once was able to do. The repercussions of my mouth overloading my feelings/expressiveness could lead me on the 5 year path Carlie has traveled with the Federal Tort Claims process. I have learned some situations I have to be very diplomatic, although it goes against my grain, winning and survival must be my ultimate goal.

Remember I am a right person, it's hard to bow down to a system such as the ways of the VA...Yes I am originally from New York, does that offer any reason why I am what I am and that's all that I am??

Not to offend you, but it takes a little than germs for me to feel "triggered" ... Just sayin'. ~Wings

[Wings]

Thanks Wings for all of your wonderful generous comments...when I read this I was a little perplexed, then I read what I wrote and could realize how you were able to draw that conclusion...I am noted for talking alot, thinking outloud, but when it comes to typing, I type SLOWLY and therefore tend to leave somethings out at times believing all can see my connections, SO here goes what I was trying to convey:

Carlie's post here about a non antiseptic method used when receiving her injection..."I should have called the nurse out on this, if for nothing more than to help protect other veterans. Unfortunately, I have done this in the past, big time, and paid with five years of pure hell going through a Federal Tort Claim."

My point was two-fold; one was to make it lite to the medical personnel""So GERMAPHOBES, lets all be conscious of medical techniques used...and two Also alot of us have PTSD and other behavioral/mental conditions what's a little phobia regarding germs gonna hurt too!"

This was meant to convey to a medical person to "lighten" the way we may feel thereby not directly offending them, but making it seem more of a sort of querk we might have. So saying like hey I have this thing about germs, so would you mind doing such and such as it would really help me with my germaphobe ways, and my phobia about germs...this puts a lighter touch on the subject instead of really saying WTF do you think you are doing...

All triggers are dangerous and if there is a way to get our points across in a non-threatening way to avoid conflict and us not getting shafted more on our claims, I am for it.

I have so many freaking triggers I avoid people altogether some days. But I am learning being somewhat dependent on others who may/maynot have control over my claim, tells me I cannot freely vocalize my thoughts, opinions, objections, as I once was able to do. The repercussions of my mouth overloading my feelings/expressiveness could lead me on the 5 year path Carlie has traveled with the Federal Tort Claims process. I have learned some situations I have to be very diplomatic, although it goes against my grain, winning and survival must be my ultimate goal.

Remember I am a right person, it's hard to bow down to a system such as the ways of the VA...Yes I am originally from New York, does that offer any reason why I am what I am and that's all that I am??

Halos2, Here's my take on what you are saying (and it's positive); If you take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves. Not sure where I heard that, prolly AA Meetings. In other words, if you head your triggers off at the pass, and confront them honestly and gently, then they aren't allowed to grow into Gorilla sized PTSD symtoms.

Check that. What you said is good.

Don't mind me, I am not a nice person like Pete! I'm a big hurt baby, a long and loud emotional roar, a raging wounded warrior ... amd I am I am lucky to be alive, and expect one day to die by the sword.

My triggers are:

Disrespect shown by Authority.

Psychotic sub-humans that hurt little children, women, the elderly and unsuspecting innocents.

People that smile while lying to your face.

War, Rape. The World, in genneral.

Soooo, if you can keep your triggers to a minimum, by having some control over things you actually have some control over, then more power to you! I hope to learn from you.

P.S. If the VA would give us some decent THERAPY, we might go off at the drop of a pin!!!

HUGS!!! ~Wings

[Pete53]

Wings:

I found out a long time ago that its not what is going on around me its what I am doing inside. I try to remove negative people from my life. I try to mind my own business sort of hard when you are a Moderator and I try to take little time outs so my Irish Temper does not get the best of me.

I can talk a good game but I still yell to much and I should be much kinder. I am a short timer on this earth as when I read the obits lately I am older than most who are there. In December Social Security will change me over to regular retirement at age 66.

I have known you long enough to know that you are a brave and decent woman who is generous even when you are struggling and I promise you that when you take time off from Hadit you are sorely missed.

I also consider you a friend we have been through a lot even though we only know each other on Hadit on a bulletin Board or Forum.I am always happy to see you post and try to learn and usually do

Pete