Trauma Series: Recognizing and Managing PTSD Triggers in Daily Life

[@22lostservice]

The word "triggered" has been used so much in pop culture lately that a lot of people do not understand what an actual PTSD triggering event is like for those of us with it. Thank you for explaing it so well.

[@lux_24601]

I drove down a road yesterday where I had crashed and almost died 6 months prior. I had to turn off the music I was playing because everyone driving past me felt like a threat. Focusing on driving and breathing slowly was all my brain could handle in that moment, but I kept driving. After I made it past that road, I was able to listen to music and drive like I normally do. I mention this story because I think one way you can give yourself compassion is to recognize your personal accomplishments. For me, it was being able to drive down that road even though it scares me. It's helpful to point at something you have done and recognize you are still able to live your life even after trauma.

[@lovecraftwithkatherine]

The whole 'nothing is happening for everyone else', oh that hits hard, as extended family really just think I'm being a bit 'extra'. Also, I can heal from PTSD? Every Dr I've spoken to has basically instructed me to just be in damage control mode. "there is no fixing PTSD or minimising triggers". This video came at the exact right time, I really was starting to lose hope that I would ever be ok again. Thank you for sharing these videos, it is much appreciated.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

This information is also so helpful for friends and family to learn, so we can be most supportive for those that experience this.

[@SaucyJTD]

I've done a ton of work over the years and am getting to a point now where things that would have gotten to me in the past no longer affect me as much as they once did. I still have a small playlist of songs that I've been slowly working through. I was considering tackling the list a little bit today already. Now, I'm taking this as a sign that I definitely should. Keep up the work, you two! These videos are so helpful ❤.

[@BrandenCOliver]

As I’ve worked to understand and notice what’s happening in my body physically, in regards to stress, I’ve discovered the difference in me between when I’m feeling good enough to survive the next moment versus feeling rest/digest. In the past, I’ve felt that if I’m good enough for the next moment, then I’m good. However, that’s not the full truth. I’m very good at performing happiness, and if I can turn the conversation to another person by listening to them, then I may actually be avoiding my “stuck” inner pain. The other person then appreciated me listening, and I’m rewarded with gratitude while still feeling “stuck”. I’m still working on self-interest, but I’m feeling so much better over the past few years. This has affected my social circle; at times some of us are closer, while I’ve lost some friendships. Ultimately, it’s better for me to not ignore my feelings. Thank you both for your videos. Side note: The Cinema Therapy episode on “Good Will Hunting” was one of the first videos I watched about therapy (3 years ago), and it led me here. ❤

[@ayeshaali5593]

I'm the exact same. If what I'm doing gives almost as much energy as it takes, I "feel" good. I also am an expert at turning the conversation, to the point that my family members feel like I'm attacking them if I voice my opinion that's contrary to theirs, or mention one of my own experiences.

[@juliethomas3523]

Thank you for the information and validation, I expect myself to be "better already" so this reminder that I can have patience with myself really helps.

[@kimberlytousley3450]

I was forced as a little girl to scratch my big brother's back until it bled. To this day, I still struggle with scratching backs. ( I thank God for back scratchers) Theres always a solution. It's not always easy or comfortable to share, but the things they talk about on Mended Light are a thing. I Needed this acknowledgment and accountability today. Thank you Mended Light.

[@ayeshaali5593]

I always watch your videos late, so I'm not sure if you'll see this. When I hear trauma, my brain automatically goes (you don't have trauma, there was no big event," but when you describe CPTSD, I'm like, oh yeah, I never felt safe. I grew up being told (directly by school and indirectly by my family) that no one wants to hear about my problems. I'm also, as I discovered from your videos, very avoidant. I'm avoidant to the point where I can't recognize my own emotions (the characters I write about feel all sorts of things, but I can't tell which is mine). I also don't know when I'm being triggered (only recently did I realize that hospitals are very hard for me to handle), and so don't have any coping strategies, I basically wait for it to pass and tell no one. I can recognize all this now, but am still stuck. I don't feel safe thinking about the past because I'm afraid of getting stuck there, I just got over the belief that I haven't lived yet because everything I remember has the tinge of badness about it. But I also can't even begin to figure out who I want to be and what I want my life to look like, or how I'm showing up and hurting other people. All this came out now. When I'm with my therapist, because I'm an extrovert and love talking to people, all of this vanishes from my brain. So... advice please.

[@triloization]

Thank you for speaking about that

[@babak-k6t]

Best video ever.

[@alexismoes]

Thank you for this!

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

Tim Fletcher's KZbin channel is useful. He has extensive videos on complex trauma that most last for 50 minutes each (or 30 minutes when subtracting the religious part). Understanding Trauma playlist might be helpful. As well as Re-Parenting playlist.

[@alexismoes]

Thank you so much!​@@alexandrugheorghe5610

[@xFailage]

Whoa I'm here at the same minute the video is posted!!

[@warriorpoet44]

Do you think that there is too much of a focus on Etiology over Teleology in psychology/counseling landscape? Thinking of The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

[@pinkitten1712]

Do you guys have book to recommend for self love? And self esteem? I have a lot of issues and can’t afford therapy. I know I can start with these topics

[@caseyg3336]

Looking at my journey through C-PTSD I'm sort of curious about something. So I was in a natural disaster that I escaped over a year ago, and I've moved into a different situation that has brought me back to a previously gnarly situation that relates to my old PTSD diagnosis. I wonder if after the natural disaster I was getting back to the rest and digest phase as I should and then getting back into the sympathetic nervous system being in play because of where I'm at now sort of puts the healing of the natural disaster trauma at a halt as well. I'm really curious about the physical implications of trauma.

[@bethhennesseymacdonald3243]

What if the situation causing the trauma never ends?

[@tylertourg5976]

Is there an email address or somewhere where I can send a private message ? I have a question about supporting someone who has been through trauma, it’s not mine to share publicly. Let me know thanks.

[@ElizabethYuen-rx9xo]

Can PTSD stem from physical trauma such as a bad car accident??

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

NARM psychotherapy is useful here

[@brandontodd1728]

That was not Chuck Berry's hit song, obviously you never heard Johnny be good