What do you do when you're triggered?

Find something tasteful and non-alcoholic…really tasty, rip-your-face-off good.

I sleep when everything is as you’ve discribed. It helps me put it in perspective and not do anything irrational and spontaneously ‘bad’.

When I am triggered, the risk for me is losing my temper. When that happens, my mouth can be a near lethal weapon. I warn those around me that I have reach the point where I can’t deal with any more anything until I calm down and get myself back under control.

For those of you in recovery, calling your sponsor or buddy may be the best next step. Is that correct?

@Dr_Lawrence For those in 12 step programs, then most likely contacting your sponsor would be the next step. I’m the same way with my anger when I’m triggered. Since I feel I can’t be angry at what I’m really mad about, then it just gets filtered to the nearest thing. Trying to stop that though.

I like to go to YouTube and listen to natural sounds such as “Sound of Brook”, “Sound of Rain”, waterfall etc… and I just listen to the white noise and try to clear my mind and just try to chill out and relax. It does wonders.

Trust me, I have a hard time staying sober as I am one of “Them” and I know I am and have come to terms with that. Basically I will listen to soothing sounds or I’ll lie on my bed and try to win 10 freecell games in a row even if it takes 2 hours if anything to get my mind off that. I also play another sleeping game where I take primary single consonant rhyming sounds and try to make as many words as I can and I try to avoid using ones I used before such as ‘end’—bend, fend, friend, etc… I don’t worry about spelling, just the sound and when my mind slows down at this I am on the verge of going to sleep.

You have to occupy your mind with nonsense so that you don’t think about anything which has a meditative calming effect. No dwelling on the past or the future, just mindless activities that put your mind at ease and tire it out so that you can finally go to sleep.

@gemiwing “Music soothes the savage beast,” is an old saying. So, do you play any type of musical instrument? That may help to give physical release of stress, as another suggestion.

@gemiwing I would suggest some hard physical activity, weights, running, etc to get a release and release the endorphins to give you a mellow feeling. PM me if you want to talk some more.

I was a bit confused when I read this question. The term “trigger” has a different meaning to people with PTSD. My late wife suffered from that; a “trigger” being some stimulus that would cause a “flashback” to a traumatic memory.

I look at pictures and videos of celestial bodies and events, while listening to ambient music. This reminds me how tiny this earth (and all the **** on it) really is.

@MrsDufresne Ambient, or “space” music helped calm Meg in her PTSD episodes too. Especially Constance Demby’s music.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land I’m meaning triggered in the same way as you’re thinking. When I get triggered I used to drink to stop the thoughts/pain. I’ll relive things from my past, I can usually get those to stop after a few hours, but they leave me drained and filled with sour thoughts. So I used to drink to silence my head. I’m trying to grow beyond that now so the question is a two-fold one. Sorry if it was a bit confusing, it was late and I was upset so I was probably making about as much sense as a hamster on crack.

@all- Thank you, these are good suggestions and I’ve written them down in my journal. Thank you.

If I took a swig every time I got ticked off I’d be stone drunk 24/7. My best coping strategy is a walk to cool down and or slow controlled deep breathing exercises. 2 minutes is all it takes to get past what ever it was that bothered me and I am good to go again. If I am at home 20 minutes on my Fender Strat works wonders too.

You’re doing exactly the right thing. You are talking/writing about it. Talk about it to as many people as you can and for as long as you can. It’ll help keep the occupied, and it’ll help you keep your will to say no.

It’s ok to talk about what is really going on, too. In fact, it may be very helpful.

It is very rare for me to feel anger. If that’s what triggered means.
I get grumpy but not mad (except at the dogs for 3 seconds).

While taking a long walk i try to think about pleasant thoughts and not the bad day!

@Aster GQ- a trigger is more than being angry. It’s a few steps above anger and is closer to fight/flight. Trigger definition

Talk to someone. Do you have a sponsor or anyone like that? Do you know various programs have chat rooms now?

Like @Cruiser, if I took just a shot every time I got spun then I’d be in real trouble so I attack house chores instead or self groom until I feel like me again, feel reason and get back on track.

Don’t be alone. Stay with people who don’t drink. If none are available to you, go to aa (even if you don’t like aa, just go for the bridge until you find a better solution)

Thank you all for your help and kind words- they mean a whole hellova lot to me.

@Neizvestnaya I went and found an online group tonight- so thank you. They brought me some peace and understanding.

@Flavio I’m going to AA tomorrow and try to find a group I like. For tonight, me and Hubbs will snuggle through this.

@gemiwing- :)