Anxiety vs Triggered from an autistic, CPTSD perspective.

Trigger warnings seem to be popping up everywhere, I came across one on my morning Facebook scroll today and will no doubt stumble over a couple more before bedtime.
As someone currently in treatment for Complex PTSD, I understand the difference between me being triggered and me feeling anxious. I also know that while there are times when I find myself in a situation I don't like or feel uncomfortable around, this does not necessarily mean I'm triggered and neither does it mean the other person/ people have to stop doing what they are doing OR I have to stop being where I'm at.
Life is complicated, emotions can be difficult and I'm not sure anyone likes to feel vulnerable, alone and scared.
This is some of what I've learned on my journey to unpick, un-pack and understand what my mind, body and soul are trying to tell me.
Thank you for listening.

[@tracirex]

I've heard that POTS is very common in neurodivergent people. helicopters affect me as well. were not defective as autistics, but we do need extra self care. instead of trying to avoid or stop your trauma response, it might be helpful to be willing to accept that your brain will be reactive at times. let it happen. then give yourself space to come back into the rational part of your brain and then work on processing the experience with neutrality and self compassion.

[@suddenlyautistic]

I am working through the PTSD situation as that level of trigger response is dangerous for me. Sitting with and thinking through is what I do so I'm getting there. I'm just explaining it in this video.

[@artemisXsidecross]

As someone who is 78 years old autism is far from being understood; I even question how helpful diagnosis can be.

[@turtleanton6539]

Well here in sweden we got alot of help

[@r.w.bottorff7735]

I also have CPTSD and ASD and my experience of an emotional trigger feels like existential dread or imminent danger. It's ominous and nebulous. When a certain song comes on even sometimes. Everything happening is internal and sometimes no one can even tell what I'm experiencing, because my face reveals nothing of the turbulence I feel.

[@suddenlyautistic]

I hear you. Being triggered is horribly disabling. I am hopeful that it'll get easier over time. Take care.

[@marymakesmandalas6068]

This is very helpful. Thank you! (I used to faint, too.)

[@kellyschroeder7437]

Oversharing - yup - that’s me - God forgive me 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ampeyro]

I've had people complain about my overexplaining, but's often the same people who like to take my words out of context or misinterpret what I say. So they can either get effed or start listenning to what I say in good faith. Later edit: About the hairdressers, I always feel like they're really pulling at the thread, almos as if they're interrogating me. Never had problems keeping my secrets to myself, but the ones I've meet seem eager to gather all the gossip they can.

[@suddenlyautistic]

That's the spirit!

[@kellyschroeder7437]

Yup, safety …..

[@terrigoulding559]

It sounds more like autistic shut downs and meltdowns. I have also heard the term emotional flashback with respect to CPTSD.

[@suddenlyautistic]

No, these things are all different. Triggered= an immediate automatic response to something external. This may progress to an autistic shut down or melt down but may not. Anxiety = internally manifested via thoughts. Again may progress to a shut down or melt down but may not. Autistic shut down or melt down= somatic cause I.e = we become overstimulated/ saturated and can't process any more. Unlike the anxiety or triggered, this can happen regardless to whether the situation is good, bad or neutral from our perspective.